The THS boys soccer team had a 2-1 lead in the final minutes of the second half when Paola shot in an equalizer and the game suddenly was 2-2.

The Chieftains, though, would get the victory for the seniors.

Rezik Morando fed Ben Vought the ball and Tonganoxie got its golden goal with 2:41 left in the first 10-minute overtime.

“That was a freshman-to-senior goal,” THS coach Jon Orndorff said after the match.

A fitting ending for a team with a mix of up and coming youngsters and established veterans.

“They stepped up when needed and helped the seniors get across the finish line in the last game here of their careers,” Orndorff said.

Other seniors playing in their final match at Beatty Field were Jakob Bartlett, Quintin Barnes and Tommy Stewart.

THS led, 1-0, in the first half on a Jaxon Albert goal with a Mason Sparks assist. Paola tied it later in the first half and then Tonganoxie made it 2-1 with a Thaddeus Hileman goal in the second half.

“A couple bounces did not go our way,” Orndorff said. “But the seniors picked the guys up and we were able to get the winning goal.”

Tonganoxie improved to 5-7-1, while Paola fell to 3-9.

Tonganoxie faced Basehor-Linwood on Tuesday at BLHS after The Mirror’s print deadline. The Bobcats were 2-9-1 entering the match.

THS takes its big road trip of the season over the weekend. Tonganoxie plays Hays (7-3-2) at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Hays High Stadium.

Tonganoxi then finishes the regular season next week with a 6 p.m. match Oct. 22 in Topeka against Seaman.

The Chieftains currently are the No. 10 seed in the Class 4-1A regional. If the season ended today, THS would be at No. 7 Bishop Ward (7-5) in the first round of this year’s playoffs.