Late score lifts Saints by Trojans

By RICK PETERSON

The Capital-Journal

The Topeka High boys soccer team lost a match Tuesday, but coach Joe Waldron had a hard time thinking of the Trojans as losers after a 1-0 defeat to state power Aquinas on High's home field.

High went into the game as the No. 2 ranked team in Class 6A, while Aquinas is ranked No. 1 in 5A-1A and is regarded by many as one of the premier programs in both the state and Midwest region.

The match was a standoff until Aquinas' David Martinez scored on an assist from Chris Lee with approximately three minutes left in the second half. Martinez's game-winner improved the Saints' record to 2- 0.

Topeka High, a perennial 6A power, fell to 1-2 (the Trojans' other loss was to North Kansas City, Mo.), but Waldron had no quarrel with his team's performance.

"I don't see any negatives," Waldron said. "The only negative I see in what happened today is that we've got a loss on our record.

"It all depends on a coach's philosophy, but I like to play as difficult of a schedule as I can play. Aquinas is just like us. They want to play somebody of quality early to test them. They're past wins and losses, just like I am."

Topeka High had its chances to win Tuesday's match, but Waldron knew that Aquinas came to town with a very talented squad.

"They're loaded," Waldron said. "This might be one of their best teams ever. They've got like 16 seniors on their squad, and I think they are the finest soccer program in the state, period. They have been for the last 10 years. If I could play 16 opponents like this, I would play them every day."

Topeka High, second in 6A last season, entered the '99 season with several question marks, and Waldron said Tuesday's match was a step toward answering those questions.

A positive for the Trojans was the play of senior goalie Jake Owen, who allowed only the late goal.

"I would say that Jake was probably the best player on the field," Waldron said. "They had a number of quality chances."

Aquinas 0 1 --- 1Topeka High 0 0 --- 0 Goal --- Aquinas: Martinez. Assist --- Aquinas: Lee.

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