League Play Helps Vikings

After two demoralizing losses last week, the Seaman soccer team has regained it's mojo. The boy's focused on team defense, winning balls out of the air, and crosses in preparation for the week's tough opposition. On Tuesday, they put their new skills to good use. In their match against 6A Centennial League opponent Manhattan, team defense was the Vikings key. No goals were scored in the match for either side ending in a nil-nil draw. Seaman's first tie of the season exposed and resilient and strengthened defense, and possibly shed light on a lack of offensive opportunities.


The following Thursday, inner city rival Topeka West took a stroll up north for a night of soccer, one that won't be forgotten for a while. It was Homecoming week for the Seaman Vikings, who usually draw one of their largest crowds on this special evening. However, downpouring rains flooded the natural surfaces and the game was moved to the turf, bringing only a handful of die-hard Viking parents and fans with it. They wouldn't be disappointed either. It took only 23 seconds for the Vikings to score off an Erick Rivera cross tapped in by Zak Hutchison for his seventh of the season. Louis DiLeonardo's team took their 1-0 advantage into half where they made corrections and came out firing in the second go-around. In only his second game back from injury, AJ Glenn netted two goals off assists by Miller and Notter to lead the Vikings to a 3-0 victory. This marked goalkeeper Ethan Wurtz's second shutout of the season and brought the team to 4-2-1 overall, and 2-1-1 in league play. Now, the Vikings face an unnatural week with three games starting with their bitter 4A rival Hayden on Monday. 

Vikes' Run Ends

It doesn't take many goals to win most soccer games, especially when you're granted a few mistakes by the opposing team. That is exactly what occurred Tuesday, September 14, when the 3-0 Seaman Vikings faced off against 6A foe Junction City on Don Pierce Field. The Blue Jays, 4-1, grabbed the momentum early in the match as they scored from a ricochet own goal off a corner kick. The Vikes answered with a stealthy goal from Wyatt McKay just before the half. The game eventually hit overtime, where Junction City prevailed scoring off another own goal with only 9 seconds remaining. The 2-1 OT loss was Seaman's first of the season, bringing them to 3-1 overall, and 1-1 in Centennial League.


Only two days later, the Vikings were taking the pitch once more against 6A power Blue Valley-Stillwell. However, this night didn't fulfill expectations for Coach DiLeonardo, who's Vikings fell 2-0. The teams second straight loss takes them to 3-2, as they hope to get back on track in a league game on Tuesday against Manhattan 

Vikings down T-Birds

Thursday night's Centennial League opener against local rival Shawnee Heights posed a threat to Louis DiLeonardo's Seaman Vikings. That is, until they settled into the game. It took the Vikes only 18 minutes to do so once freshman Greg Roller earned them a penalty kick and senior Zak Hutchinson successfully converted. With confidence, Seaman's David Notter scored only five minutes later, assisted by the head of sophomore midfielder Lucas Boyd. To cap off the half, Hutchinson drilled home another goal from 20 yards out to put the Vikings up 3-0. Seaman then coasted the second half, something Coach DiLeonardo was not fond of.

"There are 80 minutes in a game. We must play all 80 minutes to get a win. In the second half, we backed off, didn't win balls out of the air, didn't even get one shot on goal. We must learn how to finish games and play all 80 minutes." said DiLeonardo to his team following Thursday's game. 

The undefeated Vikings now look toward their home opener against league opponent Junction City on Tuesday, September 14. The Blue Jays will be the first of four home games over the next two weeks for Seaman.

"We are excited. It's always great to be able to play in front of your home fans, especially when you are performing at a high level." said senior Peter Schmidt. 

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Boy's Soccer Holds On

The Seaman boy's soccer team held on to road victories this week against familiar foes Lansing and Shawnee Heights. Lansing, ranked fifth in 5A, upset the Vikes just one year ago with a stunning 2-1 OT victory. Louis DiLeonardo and his team had other ideas for this year. Just twenty minutes into the half, senior forward Zak Hutchinson tapped home a penalty kick, before midfielder David Notter scored his first career goal as a Viking just before intermission. Hutchinson added another in the second half, his fourth of the season, and as the game became dicey late, Seaman held on for a 3-1 win.

"You have to be able to control your emotions, on and off the field. We can't let stupid decisions get between us and the game." said Coach DiLeonardo on Tuesday's late game incidents that landed Peter Schmidt a red card. 

The Vikings now look to further improve their record this Thursday when they venture out to Lake Shawnee to take on the Thunderbirds of Heights.