Nov. 5-6
Stryker Sports Complex, Wichita
BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST
Coach: Erik Jones
Record: 15-1-3
Semifinal match: vs. Valley Center (13-5-1), 7 p.m.
Key players: Tanner Celio, sr., M; Josh Peterson, sr., M; Baha Ibrahim, jr., M; Sam Michael, sr., F; Jensen Pechar, sr., F; Ethan Houseworth, sr., GK.
Worth noting: Timberwolves looking for fourth 5A title in five seasons after losing in regionals a year ago. … Also finished second to St. James Academy in 2016 and fourth in 2015. … Southwest surrendered four goals in season-opening draw with Olathe West, then just seven in its next 18 matches. … Michael leads the Timberwolves with 13 goals, while Jensen has 12. … Houseworth has recorded a team-record 13 shutouts and hasn't been scored on since Sept. 28. … Southwest went 6-0-1 to win the Eastern Kansas League title. … Timberwolves won the KAMO Classic in September and played 6A quarterfinalist Dodge City to a scoreless draw in the 810 Varsity Soccer Showcase. … Southwest's lone loss was 1-0 to Rockhurst (Mo.) in overtime. … Jones started his coaching career as a varsity assistant and JV head coach for the St. Thomas Aquinas boys and girls teams, and led Basehor-Linwood's boys to a Class 4-1A runner-up finish in 2016.
MAIZE SOUTH
Coach: Rey Ramirez
Record: 17-1-1
Semifinal match: vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (14-4-1), 5 p.m.
Key players: Peyton Wilson, sr., F; Vitor Geromel, so., F; Payton Simon, sr., GK; Marcos Rodriguez, sr., M; Oliver Jaberg, sr., D; Quentin Gee, sr., D.
Worth noting: Mavericks return to 5A's final four for the third time in four seasons. … Maize South finished second to Blue Valley Southwest in 2018 and 2019. … Mavericks were the state's highest-scoring team during the regular season with 94 goals. … Maize South has four double-digit goal scorers: Wilson, Geromel, Rodriguez and sophomore Miles Edwards. … Wilson (27 goals, eight assists) and Geromel (28 goals, 11 assists) each scored in the Mavericks' 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Kapaun Mount Carmel. … Jaberg scored the game-winner in a 2-1 regional final victory over Newton. … Rodriguez was a first-team all-state selection a year ago. … Mavericks have won 11 straight since an overtime loss to Wichita Heights and a scoreless draw with 6A quarterfinalist Derby. … Maize South is 67-10-2 the last four seasons.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
Coach: Craig Ewing
Record: 14-4-1
Semifinal match: vs. Maize South (17-1-1), 5 p.m.
Key players: Barrett Kitts, jr., M; Ethan Young, jr., F; Jacob Muckerman, sr., D; Carter Diggs, sr., GK; Gabe Garcia, jr., M/D; Luke Konnesky, sr., M.
Worth noting: Aquinas, the reigning 5A champion, is making its 25
th state semifinals appearance. The Saints have won 17 titles and finished second four times. … Aquinas has won 20 consecutive regional championships. … Diggs was the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association's 5A goalkeeper of the year last season. He has nine shutouts and a 1.01 goals-against average this season. … Muckerman, the Eastern Kansas League defensive player of the year, has five postseason goals and 10 for the season. … Young scored a hat trick in the Saints' 6-0 quarterfinal victory over De Soto. He leads the team with 18 goals. … Kitts, an All-EKL first-team selection along with Muckerman and Young, has seven goals and a team-leading 19 assists. … Aquinas finished second in its bracket of the Great River Classic, an annual tournament that draws top teams from the Midwest and across the country.
VALLEY CENTER
Coach: Matt Coleman
Record: 13-5-1
Semifinal match: vs. Blue Valley Southwest (15-1-3), 7 p.m.
Key players: Isaiah Stokes, sr., GK; Logan Glidewell, sr., D; Nash Crosby, sr., D; Angel Loza, sr., M; Antonio Tanguma, sr., M; Cade Martin, sr., M.
Worth noting: The Hornets are making their first state semifinals appearance. They reached the 5-1A quarterfinals twice in the 1990s under former coach Kirk Amerine. … Valley Center advanced with a penalty-kick shootout victory over Bishop Carroll, avenging a loss to the Golden Eagles in last year's regional final. … The Hornets set a school record for victories and a team record with 11 shutouts, all with Stokes in net. … Martin, a second-team all-state selection last season, is the Hornets' career leader in assists (45) and points (111). The UMKC commit leads the team with 14 goals and eight assists. … Loza, a Wichita West transfer, has four goals. His shot clinched the quarterfinal shootout victory. … Tanguma has five goals and four assists. … Valley Center hasn't allowed a goal in its last seven matches.