Halftime Lead Not Enough, Saints Fall to Top Seed Cowley in Region Playoffs

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – Despite holding a 1-0 halftime lead, the sixth seeded Seward County Saints suffered a 3-1 road loss at top seeded Cowley in the Region 6/Plains District Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Cowley Soccer Field.

The loss for Seward ends their season in the opening round of the tournament with their overall record at 5-11-1. The Saints were 0-9-1 in league play. It marks the third straight year that Seward's season has ended at Cowley in the playoffs.

Seward took a 1-0 lead into halftime as sophomore Renan Maestri found sophomore Pedro Mendonca for the Saints goal 20 minutes into the first half.

Cowley scored its three goals all in the second half, with the first two coming within five minutes of each other in the 62nd and 67th minute. Hayata Kobayashi scored the Tigers' first and last goals.

Sophomore Miguel Kwiatkowski spent all 90 minutes in goal for Seward, finishing with nine saves. Cowley keeper Lukas Lowry finished with five saves.

The Saints were outshot 24-8 in the game, 16-3 in the second half.

Freshman Suain Moncayo led Seward with three shots, two on goal.

Cowley advances to the semifinals where they will host four seed Garden City next week.