After a strong season with a 10-4-2 record, the Huskies came into their first game of playoffs as the 7 seed in the 6A East region. Although their opponent, the Olathe South Falcons, were the 10 seed, the Huskies knew it would still be a close game.

“Olathe South is a team that’s won seven of their last eight games and put in four goals in the last five of them. It was a tough draw and we knew they were coming in with a full head of steam,” head coach Brian Pollack said.

 After their win against Saint James Academy last week, the team headed into the game with vigor according to sophomore goalkeeper Cooper Burandt.

“I think we started off the game strong in the first half. We came out with a lot of energy [and] we seemed to keep possession of the ball,” Burandt said.

With 29:16 left in the game, senior captain Sam McIntosh received the ball off a corner kick and flicked it to junior Clayton Ransom. Ransom kicked the ball into the net, putting the Huskies ahead. BVNW managed to keep their 1-0 lead heading into halftime, however, with 36:42 left in the second half, the OSHS Falcons responded with a goal of their own.

“[In] the second half we had to go against the wind which kind of made us struggle a bit more,” Burandt said.

Additionally, McIntosh said that although the team came out with high energy, as the game went on, the team began to feel worn out. 

“I think we came out pretty strong and then got a little tired and they got the better of us,” McIntosh said.

The score stayed tied 1-1 for the rest of regulation, and so the two teams headed into their first set of overtime. Northwest and South stayed scoreless throughout the entire first set of overtime, and the first half of double overtime too.

According to Pollack, the team had spent a long time preparing for the game, but going into the second half of double time was draining on the team’s energy level.

“All we tried to do the last two weeks is get healthy and I’m proud of the way that boys battled. And you know, it’s almost unfair playing that many overtimes,” Pollack said.

With 2:44 remaining in the second half of double overtime, the Falcons scored the game-winning goal, ending the game with the OSHS defeating the BVNW 2-1. 

Although this is not how the team wanted to end their season, Pollack said he is proud of the team and what they were able to accomplish this season.

“From the highlights of winning FATCAT for the first time, to being undefeated at the start of the season, which is an accolade of Sam McIntosh, but it’s a team effort. So many of those seniors have been so pivotal to our success, so I’m gonna remember the seniors and how they brought the team together,” Pollack said.

With this being McIntosh’s last game playing for the Huskies, he mentioned how he feels lucky to have played with this group of seniors and how he will miss them as their season comes to an end.

“I’m proud of the way we played all season,” McIntosh said. “This group of seniors is really special to me. I’ve been with them for four years and I wouldn’t have done it with anyone else.”