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Bishop Seabury’s Ka’Neisha Price battles for possession of the ball with Bishop Miege’s Olivia McGaugh during a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
LAWRENCE — A storybook season for the Bishop Seabury girls soccer team was brought to a close by the reigning nine-time state champion Bishop Miege Stags in a 5-1 loss during the state quarterfinals on Monday.
Seabury head coach Ivo Ivanov likened its juggernaut opponent to a collegiate program, dubbing them the “University of Bishop Miege” after the Seahawks’ regional championship victory on May 21.
Ivanov said that his squad was unable to match Miege’s depth.
“They are a giant school,” Ivanov said after Monday’s loss. “They have 22 club premier players, and they were able to wholesale substitute. And that got to us.
“We have 14 players, it was 87 degrees, and we knew we were going to run out of steam, out of juice,” he said. “And sadly, that’s what happened.”
The Stags entered the match on a staggering 48-game playoff win streak, and very much looked the part, seizing a 2-0 advantage 15 minutes into the contest.
Gabby Calderon booted through Miege’s first goal, followed by Paige Jackson’s high arching kick from beyond the 18-yard box that sailed into the back of the net.
“They hit a lot of long shots, but they were low quality, and most of them were not on frame,” Ivanov explained, adding that his squad’s defensive game-plan centered on congesting the area around the 18-yard box.
“What we could not defend were the set pieces.”
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Bishop Seabury’s Amelia Rozzi gets into position for a goal kick during a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
Seabury (14-4) quickly replied as freshman Sophie Borroto-Novick squeezed a shot through a thicket of defenders and past Miege goalie Ashley Myers, trimming the deficit to 2-1. Seabury’s lone goal originated from a corner kick that was delivered into play by star freshman Presley Peterson.
“I felt like we had a little bit of momentum,” Ivanov said.
But the momentum evaporated as the Seahawks spent the vast majority of the first half fending off Miege’s unrelenting offensive pressure. With around two minutes remaining in the half, Calderon parlayed a free kick into her second goal of the contest, and a 3-1 Stags’ advantage.
Miege carried its momentum into the second half, as two quick goals by Isabella McGaugh and Jackson swelled the lead to 5-1, accounting for the final margin.
Despite the final result, Ivanov said that the match was “less difficult than I expected.”
“Nobody had scored a single goal against them in the playoffs, and they mercy-ruled everyone they faced,” he said. “We expected it to be more challenging.”
Miege has been a thorn in the side of many schools as they’ve stockpiled state championships in an array of sports over the past few decades.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Bishop Seabury’s Sophie Borroto-Novick celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Bishop Miege during the first half of a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
For Seabury girls soccer, the program has now met its postseason demise multiple times at the hands of the Stags. A year ago, Seabury’s season concluded in an 8-0 mercy-rule playoff loss to Miege.
Seabury senior co-captain Xeva Oldridge said she’s carried that loss with her ever since.
“At the end of that season, I was pissed,” Oldridge said. “I had such a fury within me after that.”
Oldridge, one of only two seniors on a roster that features nine underclassmen, said she was impressed with the team’s showing on Monday. Especially in comparison to last year’s outcome against Miege.
“Being able to have this team of basically purely freshmen come out and take them to 5-1 was inspiring, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” she said, adding that it was a bittersweet experience.
“I’m sad to be walking away.”
A four-year starter as a defender, Oldridge said that her fondest memory “might just be this entire season,” which included a pair of firsts for the program with its Kaw Valley Conference league title and regional championship wins.
“This whole season has been nothing but joy,” she said. “We don’t just have great players, we have great personalities and great girls.”
She added that the coaching staff has a way of getting the most out of its players.
“They just appreciate you working hard instead of just having skill,” she said. “That matters and has always mattered my whole four years.
“So growing from just being a freshman and having that work ethic and, kind of not really a whole bunch of skill, to being able to develop that skill but maintain that work ethic. Because that’s always been valued here.”
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Bishop Seabury’s Presley Peterson jumps into the air as she tries to kick the ball past Bishop Miege’s Josie Astor during a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
Seabury is set to return the bulk of its roster from a high-powered offense that averaged 5.05 per game, including a six-match stretch during the team’s 11-match win streak early in the season where the Seahawks outscored their opponents by a 48-1 margin.
Peterson finished the season with a team-leading 29 goals and added 16 assists, while Ankenbauer has recorded 40 goals and 28 assists over two seasons. Junior Izzy Gonzalez, a right winger, chipped in 14 goals and four assists.
Freshman goalkeeper Amelia Rozzi pitched a number of shutouts, including Seabury’s 1-0 regional title victory over Baldwin.
Departing seniors, meanwhile, include Oldridge and fellow defender Sydney Walter.
“They’re leaving, but they kind of gave us a blueprint for success,” Ivanov said, adding that the projected composition of the roster has the team well positioned for 2027.
In a season filled with many peaks and very few valleys, Ivanov said that his favorite moment was the team’s league-clinching overtime victory against Kansas City Christian School.
“I felt like we were the better team, but it took overtime and a ‘golden goal’ to win it. It was very exciting,” he said, adding that the regional championship victory also ranks as a top moment.
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Bishop Seabury’s Bailey Sparks delivers a header during a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Bishop Seabury’s Izzy Gonzalez battles with Bishop Miege’s Bella Castillo over possession of the ball on an incoming pass during a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Bishop Seabury’s Ka’Neisha Price kicks the ball down the field during a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Bishop Seabury’s Izzy Gonzalez tries to block a kick on the ball from Bishop Miege’s Bella Castillo during a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Bishop Seabury’s Macy Ankenbauer heads back to the sideline walking alongside Seahawks head coach Ivo Ivanov after a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Bishop Seabury fans clap for the Seahawks girls soccer team after a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Bishop Seabury’s Presley Peterson and Xeva Oldridge hug as they head back to sideline after a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Bishop Seabury’s Madilynn Walker, center left, hugs Sydney Walter after a 4-1A state quarterfinals girls soccer match on May 25 at Bishop Seabury High School in Lawrence.
