Yes, the Chieftains avoided a Perry-Lecompton sweep of the season series after the Kaws won in Tonganoxie last month, but THS didn’t exactly return the favor.

Instead, the Chieftains had to settle for a 2-2 deadlock in a game they thought they should have won.

As in the first meeting, Perry-Lecompton’s Ryan Guffey scored the Kaws’ goals. The Chieftains had some trouble stopping Guffey, but Tonganoxie had several open shots of its own that sailed over the net.

Even in the second and final overtime, Tonganoxie had an opportunity to put Perry-Lecompton away.

THS junior Kirk Rodell shot Tonganoxie’s penalty kick after the PLHS goalie was whistled for an infraction in the goalie box. Chieftain senior Travis Andrews charged toward the goal while the Kaws goalie tried to smother the ball. The goalie thought Andrews intentionally went after him. With the ball loose behind him, the goalie grabbed another Chieftain player to prevent him from making an attempt at the ball.

Tonganoxie then received its free kick, but the diving goalie extended to his left and robbed Rodell of a game-winning goal.

Chieftain coach Luke Denney knew his team had chances to win, including three shots on goal to Perry-Lecompton’s zero in overtime. Still, Denney was pleased with the team’s resilience. The Chieftains had to come back from a 2-1 deficit late in regulation to tie up the game.

“They never gave up, that’s what I’m proud of,” Denney said.

Although Guffey shined for the Kaws, Bradley Willis nearly had a hat trick for the Chieftains. In the first overtime, Willis blooped a shot above the PLHS goalie, but the ball also cleared the cross bar.

Willis, however, scored both of Tonganoxie’s goals. In the second period, Travis Schultz passed the ball to Willis from the sideline. It appeared as though Willis was going to pass the ball back, but he used a foot-over-head kick known as a bicycle or Pele kick. The ball floated over the goalie’s head and into the left side of the goal.

“I was just trying to pass and get kind of close to the goal,” Willis said.

Tonganoxie (3-4-1) was rained out of a game Tuesday against Ottawa, but will travel Thursday to Basehor.

Tonganoxie 1, Bonner Springs 0

Bonner Springs vs. Tonganoxie, Take II, didn’t resemble game one at all.

A bigger, more physical Braves soccer team handled THS, 3-1, on Sept. 2 at Chieftain Field, but it was the Chieftains who outshot Bonner Springs on Thursday.

And, with about four minutes left in the game, Tonganoxie made the game-winning shot on Chris Colon’s assist to Kirk Rodell. THS held on for the 1-0 victory and improved to 3-4.

“Just thinking back on the last game, they pretty much dominated, winning 3-1,” coach Denney said. “It was completely opposite this game. We were really all over them.

“I was really pleased with that.”

The Chieftains won with some personnel shifting.

Tonganoxie still uses a 4-4-2 alignment, but senior Travis Andrews moved to forward, junior Travis Schultz from forward to outside right half and Bradley Willis to outside left half.

“There’s more running involved, not so much goal scoring as distributing the ball and making things happen,” Denney said about the outside positions.

The entire Tonganoxie team will be running much more this week.

After games Monday in Perry and Tuesday against Ottawa, the Chieftains travel Thursday to Basehor-Linwood.

“We’ve king of been missing out on games lately, so I think they’ll be excited for it,” Denney said.

Denney doesn’t think fatigue will be a factor for Tonganoxie this week. Practices will be lighter to offset the busier game schedule.

“You just kind of have to tone practices down a little bit,” Denney said. “If anything you get up more for game days. Hopefully it will elevate them.”

Team statistics

Thursday

Tonganoxie 1, Bonner Springs 0

THS 0 1 — 1
BSHS 0 0 — 0

Shots on goal: THS 14, BSHS 7
Saves: BSHS 14, THS 7
Corner Kicks, THS 1, BSHS 1
Fouls: BSHS 13, THS 11
Offsides: THS 1, BSHS 0
Scoring: Kirk Rodell goal from Chris Colon

Monday
Shots on goal: THS 11, PLHS 10
Saves: PLHS 10, THS 8
Fouls: THS 15, PLHS 11
Offsides: THS 3, PLHS 0
Scoring: Willis, first half; Willis, second half.