THS 3, AHS 0

Justin Nutter

Dawson Jones scored his first career goal in a 3-0 win Tuesday against Atchison.

First half scoring

Dawson Jones (TON), 20:23

Second half scoring

Asher Huseman (TON), 30:13

Asher Huseman (TON), 12:44

Dawson Jones scored his first career goal, Asher Huseman added two scores after halftime and the Tonganoxie High soccer team got its first win with a 3-0 shutout of Atchison on Tuesday at THS.

After numerous missed scoring chances — some off-target and others right at the goalkeeper — Jones broke free down the right sideline and fired a shot across the field and just over the hands of AHS keeper Nathan Dykstra.

“It was a beautiful goal, but it was a ball that was intended to be a cross,” coach Brian Kroll said. “It just so happened to be at the perfect angle and went right over the keeper’s head.”

The Chieftains nearly got on the scoreboard when Huseman got a one-on-one opportunity in the opening minute, but Dykstra punched his shot attempt over the crossbar just 14 seconds into the game. Huseman had two more shots blocked in the next six minutes, and several other THS players came up empty before Jones finally cashed in.

Atchison got its best scoring chance early in the second half when Jerel Rawls passed to Ben Horvatic in front of the Chieftain goal, but Horvatic couldn’t quite get to the ball. Rawls missed a shot to the right less than two minutes later, and AHS never threatened again.

Huseman doubled the THS advantage off a pass from Alec Richert with 30:13 to go, then made it 3-0 on a breakaway down the middle of the field with 12:44 left. He now has a team-leading five goals this season.

THS can get to .500 when it hosts Perry-Lecompton at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. According to Kroll, though, putting together a win streak is far from the top priority.

“Right now, it’s not about the wins,” he said. “It’s about how we do it, whether we win or we lose. If we start putting it together the way it should be done, the wins are going to come. There was considerable progress today.”