Kansas Covered Final Four Write-up

 ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

 

Coach: Craig Ewing

 

Record: 12-6-1

 

Semifinal match: vs. Maize South (18-1-0), 4 p.m.

 

How they got here: beat Pittsburg, 10-0; beat Sumner Academy, 3-1; beat De Soto, 1-0.

 

Key players: Liam Ryan, sr., F; Joseph Befort, jr., MID; Cooper Welsh, sr., LB; Miles Laws, jr., CB; John Weinrich, sr., CB; Bobby Bjorseth, jr., RB; Andrew Muckerman, sr., C-MID.

 

Worth Noting: Aquinas is the most storied program in Kansas with 17 state championships in its history. … The last of those came in 2020 at Spring Hill, the site of this year’s tourney. … Saints won eight straight titles from 2003-10, the first two of those coming in Class 6A and the rest in 5A. … Program also has four runner-up finishes and four thirds, including a third-place showing last year after a 3-2 loss to eventual state champion Maize South in the semifinals. … Ewing has won 550th career game in regional finals. … Ryan has team-high 14 goals and also 8 assists. … Ewing calls back line of Welsh, Laws, Weinrich, Bjorseth one of the best defenses in program history. … Muckerman missed first nine matches recovering from spring ACL tear. … Saints were 3-6-0 without him on the pitch and are 9-0-1 since his return. … Three of six losses came to out-of-state programs while other three came to state semifinal teams – 6A Dodge City (3-1), 5A Blue Valley Southwest (3-2) and 4A Bishop Miege (2-1 OT). … Only tie came against Blue Valley West … Nathan LeBrouveau scored game-winner in quarterfinals off Bjorseth throw-in on set piece.

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