Senior Conall Root sat down on the Washburn Rural turf, and just like years past the same sentiment, the same overpowering emotion plagued the atmosphere on the pitch with a silence; direct reflection of a loss that often seems like a recurring flashback.

Three-time defending regional champions Manhattan High boys soccer failed to defend their title against rivals Washburn Rural, losing 2-0 to a team that has notoriously knocked them off the playoffs for the past three years, not only ending seasons but ending the dreams of a Manhattan program that has many times come close to the glory of a state championship, only to be ended at the hands of the Junior Blues.

In previous years, sub-state became the scenery for the rematch. Two seasons always hanging in the balance along with two senior classes who know each other too well. The Manhattan-Washburn rivalry, however, continued in a different scenario, one that included the  regional finals, a title Manhattan has held and defended for the past three years. The Junior Blues came into the match with 10 seniors on the roster compared to Indians’ 3, who were all  present at the rivalries last chapter, last year’s 1-0 epic that advanced Washburn past Manhattan.

Coming off last week’s victory 4-1 win against Wichita Northwest in the first round of regionals, Manhattan was hot, entranced on a seven-game unbeaten run that could either see its triumphant continuation or its dramatic ending when they traveled to Washburn.

“We’re so familiar with them,” head coach Frank Alonso said. “It’s always a good game.”

The game began to a frenzy of passes by Washburn, making the first move by stealing the ball   right from a Manhattan kick off. From there the possession of the ball was controlled by the Junior Blues, who amidst the opportunity of a corner kick headed the ball past Indians goalkeeper Zach Bergeron and into the net. 1-0 with just over five minutes of play.

“We left a man unmarked and I should’ve come out for the ball,” Bergeron said. “We got out-hustled. We didn’t get out-skilled, we just got out-efforted [on the play],”

Mid-way through the first half, senior midfielder/forward Angel Fraire subbed onto the field hoping to give MHS a different dynamic, a tactic that wouldn’t stop WRHS from keeping the ball on their feet.

The second half kick-off saw a more physical Manhattan side; punchier in their play and aggressive in defense. Possession also saw a change, Washburn did not keep the ball for as long of time, giving their opponents a chance to keep the ball and find an equalizer. 15 minutes into the second half a well organized series of passes ended at the feet of MHS junior midfielder Nimrod Eshar who found the ball on weak foot and was unable to score. The most notable chance for the Indians had come and gone; on the other side of the pitch a counter-attack was coming to fruition for the Junior Blues. WRHS senior midfielder Ross Boyd zig-zagged through defenders, only coming to a stop when junior defender Dylan Thomas stepped up to foul him at the edge of the box earning him a yellow card. Boyd himself took the freekick, sniping the ball in the back of the net as it went above Bergeron.

Down two with 18 minutes left and the season on the line, the Indians changed formation moving Thomas, previously a center back, into the midfield in order to formulate more on the offensive side of play. Junior midfielder Ben Choi repeatedly sent in crosses toward the middle, one that found junior forward Modou Faburay’s head but failed to go into the net. As time regressed into an inevitable end, the same scene from last year started to take place, symbolizing the victory of not only Washburn, but of the haunting setting which found a defeated Manhattan once again.

“We weren’t ready for this game,” Root said. “Considering the start that we had, honestly I’m glad that we made it here.”

Root, Fraire and seniors Ethan Englehorn and Nick Mignano all played in the game, marking their last encounter with the Manhattan jersey.

“We were second-best tonight,” Alonso said. “Sometimes we’re angry after games that we lose, and ‘oh my god we could have’ or ‘we should have’ but I think a lot of it is it’s difficult to win when you have an underclassmen team. They were better than us tonight and they deserve the win. Cheap seats are easy and [Washburn] are a bully and they bullied us tonight.”  

Manhattan returns 17 players from their current Varsity roster next year, along with the players who will go up from J.V.

“This game is definitely a motivator,” junior midfielder Nate Awbrey said. “the past few years I’ve lost here. I’ve seen my season ended twice and I don’t want that to happen again,”

Awbrey played against Washburn in last year’s 1-0 loss in sub-state.

As it stands none of Manhattan’s seniors are committed to play soccer in college

“It’s been the best four years of my life playing of this team,” Fraire said “I’m planning to go to college and get better every single day,”

Regardless Manhattan’s returning roster highlights the chances of moving forward without the exiting players.

“We return a lot of players next year,” Alonso said. “and now that they have experienced this game. I’m proud of the boys. I feel badly for the seniors, all four seniors are great guys and they work tirelessly. It’s unlucky that some of the seniors that could’ve come out for the team, didn’t. Next year we will be one of the favorites. I’m sick of losing to [Washburn]. we should beat the living headlights out of them next year. We’ll be favorites next year.”