Topeka Hayden used four goals from senior Conner Beck to fuel a 5-1 win over Tonganoxie in the 4-1A state championship match Saturday afternoon at Piper High School.

The victory gave the Wildcats their second state title. The first came in 2000. They ended the season with a 21-1 record.

The loss ended the best season ever for the 21-year Tonganoxie program. The Chieftains ended the season 16-4-1.

Hayden led 2-0 at halftime on two goals by Beck, but it could have been worse. The Wildcats had an 19-2 advantage in shots on goal in the first 40 minutes.

It was the play of senior keeper Keaton Truesdell that kept Tonganoxie in the match with several outstanding saves.

“He has been outstanding for us for four years,” third-year coach Brian Kroll said. “We wouldn’t have the record we have without him.”

According to Kroll, Truesdell had 21 saves in the 3-1 semifinal victory over McPherson for the Chieftains’ first state semifinal victory.

The Chieftains got their only goal on a penalty kick by senior Matthew Saathoff at the 20:55 mark.

“That was his 12th penalty kick of his career, and he has made all 12,” Kroll said. “It was his 41st goal of the season. He is a phenomenal player.”

The last Wildcat goal came on a penalty kick by Beck with 18:45 left in the match.

Hayden dominated the game with an 31-5 shots-on-goal advantage, and the Wildcats had an 10-2 advantage in corner kicks.

“We didn’t play our game, and we didn’t play Hayden’s game,” Kroll.

Third-place game

Defending champion Kansas City Christian beat McPherson 3-2 on penalty kicks in the third-place match.

The Panthers actually scored only one goal. Their first goal was an own goal because a McPherson defender headed a ball in the goal.

They trailed 2-1 with 45 seconds to go when freshman Andrew Carnes’ long shot from the left side was on goal. The Bullpups’ keeper tried to tip the high shot over the goal, but it came down to the ground at the goal line and the backspin on the ball pushed into the goal.

The match was tied at 2-2 after two 10-minute overtimes and two 5-minute overtimes. Then it went to penalty kicks. The Panthers won when the Bullpups missed their seventh penalty kick and senior Tucker Swiaslyn made his for the victory.

KC Christian ended the season with a record of 10-7-4.