This Time Skins Handle Hays

When it counted most, the Liberal soccer team came through. After two regular season losses to Hays, the Redskins beat their WAC foes 2-0 Tuesday night at the Cornelsen Sports Complex in the first round of the 5A playoffs. It was a scoreless first half during an unseasonably warm and still evening.

Junior Mendez scored Liberal’s first goal five minutes into the second half on a ball which was mishandled by the Hays goalkeeper. Jason Rios, who sat part of the first half with an injury, scored in the second half with 5:04 remaining to give LHS some cushion. The Redskins are 8-8-1 and advance on to play 15-2 top seeded Salina Central. The Redskins have never lost to the Mustangs who defeated Ark City 9-0 at Salina Stadium Tuesday night. LHS defeated Salina Central at Salina in the quarterfinals last year.