By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
A United Kansas Conference soccer tilt on Monday night between Shawnee Heights and Topeka West featured both teams coming into the match with one combined loss.
While it’s still early in the year, this game could hold title implications later down the road and Shawnee Heights knew that coming in.
The T-Birds then went out and took advantage of the opportunity, riding a three-goal hat trick from senior Camden Granado to a 4-1 win over the Chargers at Hummer Sports Park.
Senior Camden Granado (left) had a three-goal hat trick to lead Shawnee Heights to a 4-1 road win over Topeka West Monday night. [File photo/TSN]
“Our guys have been thinking and working all season toward not just tonight but just the idea of league championship wins and give it up to Topeka West, what an effort playing down a couple of guys, they’re a great team,” Shawnee Heights head coach Nic Simons said. “We are embracing this idea that we’re never satisfied ... we are going to continue to have this championship mentality and I think our guys showed that, keeping their composure tonight and kept the pressure on and I think that’s what’s a great hallmark out of this group.
"They have learned their lessons early. We’ve scheduled (Washburn) Rural, (Lawrence) Free State, all of these good teams early so that we can be ready for a big stage like tonight.”
Granado said Monday was a statement win for the T-Birds.
“We had this match circled on our calendars for a long time and a couple of other matches before this. After we get past those first couple of matches, it’s all focused on this and coming out of this game with a win, knowing this game could determine the league,” Granado said.
The Chargers were issued two red cards in the game which made it 11 vs. 9.
Simons said when that happens, it changes the momentum and gameplan.
“It was super hard,” Simons said. “We talked to our guys before the game that this in many ways was like a playoff game… the first 25 to 30 minutes or so, it played out just like a postseason game. I think both teams were kind of playing like not to make a mistake rather than exploit opportunities.
"It was a shame that some stuff outside of our control changed the dynamic of the game. I don’t want anything to take away from what otherwise would’ve been an incredible game, come down to a photo type finish at the end. I got to give our guys a lot of credit because they held their composure in obviously a tough situation and I think for that, they earned the victory.”
The Chargers had allowed just four goals on the season but gave up three in the first half alone to the Thunderbirds.
Shawnee Heights moved to 6-1 on the campaign and are winners of six in a row.
After a free kick that hit a Chargers hand in the box, a penalty kick followed from Granado scoring the game's first goal with 19:36 left in the first half.
Almost five minutes after that, the T-Birds had a great presence, attacking in Topeka West territory and Nick Prater booted one in the back of the net, making it 2-nil.
Granado would strike again off his right foot into the left side of the goal off another penalty kick with 8:29 left in the first half.
Topeka West junior Diego Gonzalez-Talavera put the Chargers on the board with a penalty kick of his own with 34 minutes left in the match.
Granado would answer that with another goal, the dagger of the match, 4-1 the final.
“What’s great about him (Granado), I think you saw him laying the ball off as much as he did taking shots or being the guy in the box and he’s one of our captains,” Simons said. “When it comes down to having a PK and to get us going, we can turn to him. This is 16 or 17 goals in six games, that’s incredible, back-to-back hat tricks. I would take those stats up against anybody in the state right now. Camden is a very special player. We have 22 players on our roster that can step up and make plays, this is a special group.”
“None of my goals would’ve come without my teammates,” Granado said. “The first goal I didn’t even draw the foul … I was lucky to get that one. The second one, I was lucky to have a great ball put into me and go down and get the foul and then the third one, just lucky to get the rebound and put it through again.”
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 4, TOPEKA WEST 1
Shawnee Heights 3 1 -- 4
Topeka West 0 1 -- 1
Shawnee Heights-- Goals: Camden Granado 3, Nick Prater.
Topeka West -- Goal: Diego Gonzalez-Talavera
