The Manhattan boys’ soccer team faced 6A powerhouse Dodge City in the opening round of regionals, falling 7-0 to the No. 4 seed Red Demons on Tuesday.
Dodge City (15-2-1) struck first eight minutes into the match and added three more goals before halftime.
Manhattan (4-12-1) showed improvement after the break, but the Indians surrendered three additional goals in the second half to close out their season.
“Things could have gone a little bit differently, but I’m pleased,” head coach Mike Sanchez said. “The boys came out and played hard. You know, it’s a long bus ride.”
The match on Tuesday marked the end of the high school careers for seniors Skylard Buffington and Ian Wassom.
“I think our two seniors did a phenomenal job, and everybody sees that,” he said. “They definitely helped out those six freshmen we have on varsity, along with the juniors who’ll be stepping into leadership roles next year.”
Sanchez felt his team improved all season long, which included wins over Wichita Northwest and Wichita-Trinity Academy late in the season.
“We grew all year,” Sanchez said. “We improved on our record from a year ago. With the schedule we play, that isn’t easy.”
With many underclassmen getting varsity experience this season, Sanchez was surprised by how consistent they were.
“I think what really stood out was the consistent improvement,” Sanchez said. “They’ve all bought in — nobody’s worried about playing time, just about doing their job, whether that’s on the sideline or out on the field.”
With a strong core returning next fall, Sanchez hopes the lessons learned this season will carry over as Manhattan looks to take another step forward in 2026.