Trent Sifuentes was using his head Monday.
Because of that, the William Chrisman boys soccer team rallied from a 3-1 deficit to down Kansas City Northeast 5-3 at Fort Osage High School for a berth in today’s Class 3 District 15 semifinals.
Sifuentes knocked in two goals – both on headers off kicks by Moritz Gross – to help Chrisman improve to 3-15 and earn a spot in today’s 7 p.m. semifinal against top-seeded Liberty.
“Getting two goals from the back was huge,” Chrisman coach John Straub said. “And they were very timely goals.”
Sifuentes headed in a Gross corner kick in the 55th minute to tie it and headed in a Gross free kick in the 71st minute for what proved to be the game-winner.
Matt Spydell started the four-goal rally with an unassisted goal – his second of the day – in the 53rd minute to immediately answer a Northeast goal.
“I think in the second half we were just mentally more prepared to play,” Straub said of the comeback from a 2-1 halftime deficit. “The first half we seemed to be a step slow, but in the second half we forced the action.”
Ben Bertram added an insurance goal in the 79th minute.
OAK GROVE 1, STALEY 0: As Saturday’s Class 2 District 8 game went on, the Oak Grove boys soccer team’s confidence grew.
Eric Barker scored an unassisted goal in the 72nd minute as the seventh-seeded Panthers stunned No. 2-seeded Staley at Excelsior Springs High School.
“It was definitely exciting to see the boys have that pure sense of joy that comes from a No. 7 seed beating a No. 2,” Oak Grove coach Ben Thomason said. “We got the goal and just hung on for dear life. They made several runs at us, but we just pulled it out.
“As the game went on, the guys started to think, ‘We can do this.’ We felt more and more confident and (Barker’s goal) was the culmination of that.”
Barker got a breakaway and knocked in the game-winner off the right post from about 18 yards out. Goalkeeper Josh Keeton, who made 11 saves, and the defense preserved the shutout.
The win puts the Panthers in today’s 7 p.m. semifinal against Kearney.
VAN HORN 4, ST. JOSEPH BISHOP LEBLOND 1: A balanced attack sent Van Horn into Tuesday’s Class 1 District 8 semifinals.
“We played fantastic,” Van Horn coach Chris Corrie said. “It may be the best game we’ve played all year.”
Cristobal Murillo scored in the 12th minute but LeBlond tied it with a penalty-kick goal eight minutes later.
Carlos Borders scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 30th minute. Carlos Contreras and Anthony Ruelas scored insurance goals in the second half.
The win was costly, though. Starting goalkeeper Kyle Davis went down with a shoulder injury in the 70th minute and won’t be available for today’s semifinal against sixth-ranked Barstow.
“We have faith in Tyler McNally,” Corrie said of who will start in goal for the Falcons. “And I feel like we’re playing our best soccer of the year, and that will give us a chance against Barstow.”
MOBERLY 1, GRAIN VALLEY 0: A 6-16-1 first season for Grain Valley ended with a tough Class 2 District 7 loss to host Moberly Saturday.
“It was the best game we have played all season,” Grain Valley coach Bryan Davis said. “We were focused and connecting, and it was a pleasure to watch.”
Graden Pretz scored the game’s only goal on a penalty kick with 14 minutes remaining.
Goalkeeper Andrew Fotopoulos had a strong game in goal for Grain Valley. He made 20 saves to keep the Eagles in contention.
RAYTOWN 3, RAYTOWN SOUTH 0: Tony Young, Rodney Mays and Rmonte´ Law each scored a goal and Brent Thomas posted the shutout in goal as Raytown advanced to the Class 3 District 14 semifinals with a shutout win Monday.
The Blue Jays (17-7-1) meet Blue Springs at 7 p.m. today.
Independence, MO —
