Bishop Miege boys win third straight state soccer title
Bishop Miege ventured to Piper High School on Saturday to face Buhler in search of the seventh state title in the history of the boys soccer program.
The Stags turned up the heat from the opening whistle on an overcast afternoon, forcing Buhler goalkeeper Collin Severud to make four saves in the first six minutes. A Crusader defender cleared a sure goal off the line not long after that.
But Miege had too many weapons to be denied, and that talent manifested itself in the form of a 4-0 victory in the Class 4-1A state title game.
It’s hard to make school history with seven titles stuffing the trophy case. Still, Miege managed to make some by winning three straight state titles for the first time in program history.
“We lost 11 guys to graduation last year, and seven went on to play in college,” Miege coach Nate Huppe said. “Then we lost our best underclassmen defender, so then we ended up playing a system we never played before just to kind of fit our best personnel. The big thing for us is our schedule prepares us for the playoffs. We played five different nationally-ranked teams in 16 games in the regular season. Not too many people can say that.”
The breakthrough came in the 25th minute Saturday, when junior midfielder Diego Rivas drew a penalty kick after being taken down in the Buhler 18-yard box.
Garrett Hagen stepped up to the spot to take the kick. Unfortunately for Hagen and the Stags, Severud was up to the challenge.
Hagen’s luck changed in that moment. He pounced on the ensuing rebound and gave the Stags a 1-0 lead.
“One earlier this season, that same exact thing happened, Hagen said with a smile. “I’ve made a couple this season normally. That one just bounced back, and I was ready for it.”
Rivas set up Hagan’s second goal later in the half when he picked him out in space on the left side of the Buhler defense.
Hagan capped off his afternoon by completing his hat trick early in the second half.
“Getting that first goal is crucial. It settles the nerves, especially for some of the guys that are new and have never played in a state championship before,” Hagen said. “That definitely helps.”
Buhler paid plenty of attention, and rightly so, to Miege senior Ethan Martinez, who scored 31 goals last year.
The Crusaders made sure Martinez on Saturday didn’t add to his career total of 52. But the extra attention left Hagen too much room to maneuver.
“(Martinez) is one of the top players in the state of Kansas and the Midwest,” Huppe said. “And Garrett was a big-time player for us. When Ethan was missing games or not fully healthy, we needed Garrett to step up and he did that.”
The postgame celebration really didn’t get started until after the Miege student body rushed to greet the team after the first round of celebratory pictures were snapped.
It carried on under the latest state title banner.
“I’m proud of these guys, because we had 15 guys who had never even been to a final four, so it’s nice,” Huppe said.
The Stags jersey features six stars above the school logo, representing the state titles. There’s plenty of time to add another star before next season.
“With all the people we lost, if felt a little sweeter winning it. To be able to send these seniors out with a win was definitely special,” Hagen said.