As their lead grew Saturday afternoon in the Maize South Invitational soccer championship match, Wichita Southeast players frequently encouraged each other to continue to play with a specific mindset.
 
“It’s 0-0!” the Golden Buffaloes’ mantra was yelled multiple times, both from the sidelines and on the pitch.
 
“It doesn’t matter the score,” Southeast senior captain Daniel Puga said. “We just keep going.”
 
Southeast went on a magical run last season, winning its first Greater Wichita Athletic League title in 15 years. The Buffaloes appear to be up to something good again after defeating tournament host Maize South 4-1 to improve their season record to 5-0.
 
Southeast edged Wichita Classical 2-1 and topped Bishop Carroll 3-0 to return to the final, where it defeated the Mavericks – last year’s Class 5A state runner-up – for the second straight year. Juniors Noah Lacio and Lincoln Ashby, a Derby transfer, each scored two goals half to help the Buffaloes remain unbeaten.
 

“I loved the passion and the energy they brought to every single game,” Southeast coach Cody Fitch said. They really do a good job of motivating each other so I don’t really have to do it. It’s probably the best group I’ve had at doing that.”
 
Puga, one of eight seniors on Southeast’s roster, is also one of the Buffaloes’ most vocal. He joined Lacio, junior forward Brayden Pauler and senior goalkeeper David Mlendja on the 11-player all-tournament team.
 
“We know that we can compete with anyone on the field,” Puga said. “It’s just a matter of getting right in our heads and focusing.”
 
In the championship, Southeast built a 2-0 lead at halftime by scoring in the teeth of a south wind. Lacio netted the first goal in the 10^th minute before Ashby doubled the lead in the 21^st, minutes after checking into the game.
 
The duo repeated the sequence in the second half, each scoring on penalty kicks drawn by Ashby. Lacio got his brace in the 55^th minute and Ashby added his less than two minutes later to make it 4-0.
 
“Lincoln adds a lot different play styles for us,” Puga said. “He can attack, he can hold up the ball, he can attract fouls. There are just a lot of contributions on the ball and off the ball that he makes, which improves us.”
 
Southeast closed off several Maize South offensive opportunities with its speed across the board, yielding only Mavericks senior Skylur Staley’s goal in the 58^th minute. Mlendja, whose play in goal helped the Buffaloes silence Carroll in the semifinals, kept the Mavericks from adding any more.
 
The successful Maize South title defense was the first in a series of season goals for Southeast. The Buffaloes face a big week in league play, traveling to Wichita East on Tuesday and Wichita Northwest on Thursday.
 
East dealt Southeast its lone loss in a 16-1-1 season a year ago, defeating the Buffaloes 2-1 in double overtime in the regional finals.
 
“Our goal is always to get back to this championship game,” Fitch said after his team’s victory. “It’s a high point. We won it last year, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll get there.
 
“That’s kind of the first major goal, and then second is competing for a City League title and the third is to compete for a regional championship.”

 
OTHER SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS SOCCER STANDOUTS

• After posting an early-season victory over last year’s Class 5A semifinalist Salina South, Rose Hill continued to build momentum by winning the Goddard-Campus tournament for the second straight year. Sophomore Caden Davis scored the game-winner with seven minutes remaining in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Goddard in the championship. The Rockets, last year’s 4A runner-up, improved to 6-0 with tournament victories over Winfield, Eisenhower and Goddard. Senior Jordy Kaba scored Rose Hill’s other goal in the title match. Rose Hill reached the final by defeating Eisenhower in a penalty-kick shootout.