WICHITA -- A year ago, Bishop Miege scored a header off a corner kick in double overtime to clinch its eighth consecutive state championship. 

The Stags couldn’t have asked for a better déjà vu moment in Saturday’s Class 4-1A state title game against Hayden at Stryker Sports Complex. 

After Dory Latenser capped her career with the golden goal in last season’s championship game, Miege senior Rowan Epps played hero this time in almost the same scenario. 

Epps headed in a corner kick from Gaby Calderdon two minutes into the second overtime to send Miege to a 2-1 victory and push the Stags’ championship streak to nine. 

“I said before the game that I was going to get a header, but I was just hyping myself going into it,” Epps said. “Coming in, I saw (the kick) and it looked like I could connect to it, then I saw it glide into the net and I was really excited.”

“Before that last corner by Gaby, I yelled, ‘C’mon girls, ‘Do what Dory did!” Miege coach Nate Huppe said.

“It’s never easy to win these things – ever,” Huppe added. “If it was, these games would never go to double overtime. We’re incredibly proud of our kids.”

Hayden had the Stags on edge early after freshman Hailey Schmidtlein scored off an assist from junior Carsyn Broxterman 10 minutes into the game. 

Thanks to stellar play from goalkeeper Lauren Borjon and Hayden’s back line, the Wildcats protected the lead until just under 14 minutes left in regulation. 

Hayden caught an unlucky break off a Miege corner when Kristina Erskine chipped a ball toward the net that deflected off the hand of a Wildcat in the box to give the Stags a penalty kick. 

Erskine buried the PK to knot it at 1. It was a full-circle moment for the senior. 

“I’ve been shooting left corner ever since I made a PK against McPherson when we were playing for a state championship my freshman year,” Erskine said. “It felt good to come back to that and circle it out.”

Hayden’s defense fended off the Stags for the rest of regulation and the first overtime until Epps delivered on the corner. 

Epps is a center back but is a weapon on corner kicks with her height and athleticism. 

“Usually corners are my thing,” Epps said. “He puts me in there because I’m kind of the tallest, I guess, so I can try to get a head on it.

“It was a great wave of relief, knowing that we sealed that deal. It felt so good, and then seeing everyone run over was nice, too. It was a great way to finish my senior year.”
 

Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer, who has guided the Wildcats to three state titles on the girls’ side, commended his team’s effort.  

“Our effort was good, our performance was good,” Kreutzer said. “We were unlucky on the handball to give them the PK, but give (the Stags) credit. You have to play your best in order to compete with them.

“It wasn’t for a lack of effort on our team. We were prepared, and we’re looking forward to being back here next year.”

Huppe credited his squad for responding after trailing for a good chunk of the game. 

“Hayden had a good game plan,” Huppe said. “They were very well organized. Coach Kreutzer does a great job with his kids. It was tough to see their girls after the game because they played well enough to win.

“The fight of our girls after giving up that early goal was awesome.”

It was the Stags’ 10th state title in program history. Outside of the current streak, Miege’s other title came in 2003. The Stags finished 16-5 on the season. 

“To be honest we didn’t speak once about the streak this year,” Huppe said. “We didn’t want the pressure on them. We had already set a new girls soccer state record for consecutive titles last year. All of that pressure with that record was gone. 

“It was just try to go win the program’s 10th, try to send our seniors out with a state championship. We stayed focused. I can’t say enough about our team this year.”

Miege will lose an eight-player senior class – Epps, Erskine, Naomi Harris, Clare Hansen, Kennedy Ashley, Rose Lopez, Addie Duckers and Caroline Bock. 

Harris scored 29 goals this season with 16 assists. Goalkeeper Hansen recorded 10 shutouts. 

“Five (seniors) are going off to college to play soccer in the fall,” Huppe said. “They love playing for their high school. All these girls choose to come to Miege, not Miege choosing them like so many people think. They love their school.”

Hayden finished 13-8. The Wildcats lose four seniors – Norma Greco, Taylor Fry, Nora Allphin and Camryn McDonald. 

“We didn’t expect to be here when the season started,” Kreutzer said. “Give them credit for finishing in style.”

In the third-place game, Rose Hill topped Louisburg 2-1.