THS 7, MHMA 1

Justin Nutter

Asher Huseman scored four goals in Tonganoxie's 7-1 win Tuesday against Maur Hill. With the win, the Chieftains advanced to their sixth straight regional title game.

First half scoring

Tyler Novotney (THS), 38:15

Tyler Novotney (THS), 30:58

Asher Huseman (THS), 29:52

Asher Huseman (THS), 24:17

Second half scoring

Asher Huseman (THS), 33:11

Tanner Mispagel (MH), 31:14

Garrett Martin (THS), 17:04

Asher Huseman (THS), 11:28

The last time Tonganoxie High played host to Maur Hill-Mount Academy, a three-year starter reached a career milestone. In Tuesday’s rematch, it was the head coach’s turn.

THS coach Brian Kroll got his 50th career win in a 7-1 victory against the Ravens in the first round of the Class 4-1A regional playoffs. The Chieftains (13-3-1) scored three goals in the first 10 minutes and cruised to their ninth consecutive victory.

Tyler Novotney gave THS a lead less than two minutes into the game when he headed a pass from Logan Williams into the net. Novotney doubled the Chieftains’ advantage with 30:58 to go when he weaved his way through several defenders and fired a shot by goalkeeper Thomas Hoopes.

“(The early lead) lets the guys relax, settle in and not be so worried about making a perfect touch,” said Kroll, who is now 50-41-3 in four-plus seasons at the helm. “We got a little bit of a cushion, so when they make a mistake, they don’t lose it.”

Asher Huseman, who became Tonganoxie’s all-time leading scorer in the last meeting with Maur Hill (5-11-1), made it 3-0 just more than a minute after Novotney’s second score. Huseman scored again on a pass from Kyle Caldwell with 24:17 to go. His shot went high into the air, but took a funny hop just in front of Hoopes and skipped into the side of the goal.

Huseman opened second-half scoring when he headed in another Williams pass about seven minutes into the period. Maur Hill’s Tanner Mispagel answered with a goal about two minutes later, but that’s all the offense the Ravens managed. Garrett Martin got in on the Chieftain scoring next, then Huseman capped things off with his fourth goal of the night with 11:28 to go.

With the win, THS advanced to its sixth consecutive regional title game. It will host Kansas City Christian, a 3-0 winner Tuesday against Piper, at 4 p.m. Thursday. The Chieftains won back-to-back regional titles in 2011 and 2012, but suffered an overtime loss to Bishop Ward in last year’s championship game.

“Most of these guys were a part of that (loss),” Kroll said. “It hit and it hurt, so they’re carrying that pain forward, so to speak.”