WICHITA – An all-state defender, Olivia Page’s primary duty in Saturday’s Class 6A state championship game was helping keep Mill Valley’s back line secure against a potent Shawnee Mission East squad.

But the versatile Page also provides the Jaguars with a major weapon on the receiving ends of corner and free kicks.

In a game heavy on star power, the University of Kansas signee thrived on both sides of the field, scoring a timely insurance goal and helping the Jaguars post a clean sheet in a 3-0 win at Stryker Complex. 

It was the first state title in program history for the Jaguars, who finished runner-up four times including last year in 5A to Aquinas. 

“It feels amazing,” Page said. “Last year gave us additional motivation. We came out and played our game and put it in the back of the net.”

“Going into the year the expectations were to be here in this game and to win this game,” said Mill Valley coach Jason Pendleton, who also guided the Mill Valley boys to their first state title last fall. “You never want to say it’s going to be a failure if you don’t (win a championship), but the girls thought if we played up to our potential this would be the ultimate outcome for this season.”

The Jaguars (18-2-1) did all of their damage after halftime, getting goals from Delaney Reishus, Page and Shelby Kindt to avenge a 1-0 loss to the Lancers in the regular season. 

“In the first half we couldn’t break the seal and get a goal, but we were dominant in creating tons of opportunities,” Pendleton said. “Kudos to our kids because our game plan was to execute the way we did.”   

The Jaguars broke the tie one minute and 26 seconds into the second half when Reishus put up a shot on goal that deflected off the hands of the keeper into the net. 

Page then made it a two-goal game with 27:38 left after heading in a pass from Reishus for her ninth goal of the season, most of which have come through the air. 

“She’s the most dominant player I’ve ever seen in the air, boy or girl, in my 27 years as a high school coach,” Pendleton said. “I know every team that plays us, when we get a corner kick or a free kick, has to be very, very concerned. She lived up to her billing today. She’s just been a phenomenal player for us all year.”

Page said she’s grateful to contribute offensively in addition to being the leader of the back line. 

“It really is fun, especially that my coach has the faith and the confidence in my ability to put the ball in the net, being a defender,” Page said. 

“She’s a special player,” Shawnee Mission East coach James Kelly said of Page. “All the respect for her. KU’s getting a great player. Players like that come around once every like 10, 20 years.”

Reishus, a Kansas State signee, set up the Jaguars’ second goal by playing it short off a corner, then getting it back and delivering the ball on the doorstep to Page. 

“Delaney’s our playmaker,” Pendleton said. “She has a super high soccer IQ.”
 

The Jaguars concentrated their defensive efforts on containing senior forward Ashley Koch, a Saint Louis University signee who entered the weekend with 24 goals on the season.  

“Ashley Koch is one of the best forwards I’ve seen in a long, long time,” Pendleton said. “We were very, very concerned about her. (Kelly) has done a phenomenal job with a young team. I know they expected a different outcome but they should be very proud of their season.”

Kindt helped put the game out of reach with a goal off an assist from Julia Coacher with 14:36 left. 

Despite being unable to hold on for a save on the Reishus' goal, East standout goalkeeper Grace Hastert helped keep the game scoreless with tough saves in the first half. 

“The first thing I said to her is we’re not even here without her,” Kelly said. “She’s an incredible goalkeeper.

“She’s going to play at (the University of Missouri-St. Louis) and she’s going to do some great things there.”

Freshman goalkeeper Jamie Ricker earned the shutout for the Jaguars. 

East, the Sunflower League champions, finished 18-3. 

“Every one of them contributed to get here,” Kelly said. “It takes a lot of hard work to get here. Thirty-four teams would trade places with us in a heartbeat. Everybody wants to get to this moment, and only two get to be here and only one gets to celebrate at the end. 

“The dedication they have to each other to go fight for each other out here all the way to the end means a lot.”

Eight Mill Valley seniors capped their careers with state championships – Page, Reishus, Kansas State signee Acacia Weis, Taylor Modrcin, Gracie Knight, Sidney Claeys, Hadley Lockhart and Sophie Pringle.

“It’s a speechless note to end on,” Page said. “I’m really going to miss this team, but I’m excited to go play on the next level.”

“Very exciting opportunity and glad we seized it,” Pendleton said. “For our boys to win 6A and our girls to win 6A, that’s a phenomenal testament. Never had won a state championship in either, and to win both in the same year is a credit to our kids and our community and the level of support our district and our admin gives us.”

Third place Washburn Rural, which fell 1-0 to Mill Valley in the semifinals, bounced back to take third place with a 4-1 victory over Manhattan. Mckinly Rohn, Peyton Merrick, Kate Hinck and Savannah Tuffley each had a goal for the Junior Blues, who finished 15-5-1.