The first round of regionals was Tuesday after The Mirror’s print deadline.

THS entered the regional semifinals as the No. 8 seed in the 4-1A East Bracket. Tonganoxie faced No. 9 Maranatha Christian Academy (8-8) Tuesday at Beatty Field after The Mirror’s print edition.

The winner of the match will take on No. 1 Baldwin (14-3) at 4 p.m. Thursday in Baldwin City. The Bulldogs defeated No. 16 Atchison (2-14-1) by a 9-1 score Monday in Baldwin City.

Tonganoxie ended the regular season with a tough 3-2 loss to Seaman on Thursday at Beatty Field. Tonganoxie lost to the Topeka school in a match that ended the Chieftains’ five-match winning streak.

On Senior Night Oct. 21 at Beatty Field, Tonganoxie outlasted Maur Hill-Mount Academy, 2-1. It was a big victory for Tonganoxie, as the Junior Ravens are the No. 5 seed in the East Bracket.

Isaiah Manus with an assist from Jameson Brietzman. Cody Lobb got the second goal with an assist from Carter Watson.

It was a highly competitive match that got heated at times. At one point in the second half, a Maur Hill player and Tonganoxie’s Garrison Sonntag had to be separated. Replay of the match showed the Maur Hill player appearing to throw an elbow and then swinging of fists ensued at the 9:44 mark of the second half. Players from both teams had to separate the two players. Both received red cards and had to sit out the next match. THS still had the Seaman game Thursday, so Sonntag was available for the regional match Tuesday.

In Thursday’s match against the Vikings, the Chieftains were down 3-0 in the second half, but THS roared back with two goals of its own and nearly pulled off the rally.

Tonganoxie coach Jon Orndorff said after the Maur Hill match that defense has been a big key for THS this season.

“I think it starts with defense first,” Orndorff explained. “Other than Baldwin and Miege, we only allowed 6 goals (entering the Maur Hill match).

The THS coach said the team members have been understanding each other’s runs and have moved forward.

Communication also has been key.

“In the preseason we talked about that,” Orndorff said about communication among players. Will you be unheard or will you be heard? We talked about how important that is and just being in sync.”

For more postseason coverage, go online at tonganoxiemirror.com or in next week’s print edition of The Mirror.