Tonganoxie, KS — Tonight’s match against 6A Leavenworth ended in a 1-3 loss, but as a coach, I walked off the field feeling more proud than disappointed. We competed. We created. And we grew. Natalie Loving put one away for us and was dangerous all night. She was relentless in the attack, and that goal was well-deserved. Lilli Sanders, Miley Maxwell, Grace Weatherford, and Baylie Igleheart all had great looks at goal—we had plenty of chances. If even a couple more of those fall, it’s a different game. That’s the next step for us: finishing. Defensively, Macie Murray was a beast. No other word fits better. She led with toughness and set the tone. Paityn VanMiddlesworth was all over the pitch, stepping up wherever we needed her. Her work rate and heart are unmatched. Johanna Boone showed up again in just her second varsity game and played with the poise of someone who’s been there before. Harlee Morando was solid on the left side, shutting down attacks and staying composed under pressure. Avery Smith saw her first varsity minutes tonight and had some really good moments—excited to see her continue to grow. In goal, Jaylynn Sparks came up big. She made some excellent saves and her distribution helped us build into the attack more than once. Yes, we’re young. But this team is learning fast, and the potential is obvious. If we start finishing our chances, we’ll be a very tough team to beat. The scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story—tonight showed just how bright our future really is.