THS won its first contest of the season April 8 with an 8-3 victory against Maranatha Christian Academy. The Chieftains followed that victory up with a 9-1 victory Friday against Chanute.

Tonganoxie scored its ninth goal with about 24 minutes left in the second half. Because the squad was up by eight goals, the mercy rule went into effect and the match was over.

The victories moved Tonganoxie to 2-3-1 on the season.

THS coach Jon Orndorff said the two victories were good for the team’s confidence. He also noted that the squad outshot its opponents in the other contests.

“That bodes well for us and shows we can play with anyone,” Orndorff said.

Tonganoxie’s first goal against Chanute took place about 7 minutes into the contest (33:03). Chanute tied it with 27:18 left, but THS would respond. THS scored four more goals in the first half (23:27, 20:04, 16:18 and 4:56) on its way to a 5-1 halftime lead. The Chieftains’ three goals in the second half came fairly quick: the first with 34:03 left and then 32:07 and 31:19.

Lilli Sanders scored a hat trick with three goals agains the Blue Comets. Natalie Loving scored two, Miley Maxwell two and Kayla Thornton and Baylee Igleheart one each.

THS had 26 shots on goal in total.

Against Maranatha Christian Academy, Loving and Thornton each had two goals, while Macie Murray, Charli Moberly, Sanders and Maxwell each had one. The Chieftains had 15 shots on goal against the Eagles.

Scoring in the previous matches were Loving (in 3-1 loss to Leavenworth), Loving and Grace Weatherford (in 2-2 tie against Baldwin) and Loving, who had two goals against Atchison in a 3-2 loss. THS had 11 shots on goal against Leavenworth, 14 shots on goal against Baldwin and 10 shots against Leavenworth.

“I think we are going to beat teams we are supposed to beat here on out and be competitive in others,” Orndorff said, noting that he thought the team has shown it can play with anyone.

Tonganoxie (2-3-1 overall and 0-0-1 in Frontier League play) takes on Louisburg (4-2 and 0-1) on at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Beatty Field. The team then goes on the road Thursday and takes on Ottawa (1-3 and 1-2) for another 6 p.m. match.