BonnerSprings.com

Tonganoxie — When the Bonner Springs High boys soccer team arrived at Chieftain Park on Tuesday for its season opener, the Braves players didn’t know what the evening would have in store.

Or even who would be playing.

BSHS coach Mike Moulin didn’t reveal the starting lineup or positions to his team until it got off the bus in Tonganoxie. Moulin said he kept them in the dark as a motivational ploy.

“I think they need to know that they all need to work hard for their positions,” the coach said.

It must have worked to some degree. Although it took the Braves a while to get started, they used a spurt late in the first half to knock off the Chieftains, 2-0.

BSHS took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute with a Shawn Jones header on a cross from Tyler Kelly. Jones found the ball waiting in the air for him directly in front of THS keeper Mitch DeHoff and bounced it up and over the goalie.

After that, the Braves began playing with confidence.

“The boys felt relieved,” Moulin related, noting his team looked a little uptight when Jones’ first few attempts misfired.

Just more than six minutes later, Bonner Springs (1-0) scored again. Conner Harrington gathered the ball on the right side from about 17 yards out and buried a kick in the back of the net after shaking off the Tonganoxie defense.

Braves goalkeeper Brett Steuart played well in the shutout, despite an onslaught of attempts early in the second half from THS forward Tyler Woolworth.

The Braves are back in action on Thursday, when they play host to Lawrence-Free State.

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