At this point, the Emporia High soccer team’s confidence is essentially bulletproof.
Before the Spartans’ regional began, coach Angel Cornejo went so far as to predict EHS would make it to State, and his similarly self-assured team delivered on that prediction.
Now the Spartans — postseason-wise, the most accomplished boys soccer team in school history — are in the State final four today in Topeka. Their reward for making it there is to play a St. Thomas Aquinas team that’s not only undefeated, but is ranked No. 3 in the nation in the ESPN Rise Fab 50.
What does Cornejo say to that? Well, he and the Spartans are ready to stand toe to toe, eye to eye, and keep themselves from blinking.
“We’re not intimidated by the rank,” Cornejo said. “... They’re just high school kids like us. They may have talent, but we do have talent as well. We have the heart to play the sport. That’s why we’re here, where we’re at right now.”
Members of his team embody that attitude. Hey, if unwavering confidence helps get you this far, why in the world would you stop now? So you don’t have to press any given Spartan too hard to come up with his own reasons why EHS can win today’s 5 p.m. game at Hummer Sports Park and advance to Saturday’s title game.
For the complete story see the Gazette print edition or the online print edition at http://www.emporiagazette.com/pdf. To subscribe to the print edition or the online print edition go to http://www.emporiagazette.com/subscribe.
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