Lawrence girls soccer beats Blue Valley in overtime, reaches regional final
Sidra Besson scored 34 seconds into overtime, lifting Lawrence past Blue Valley 3-2 and into its first regional final in girls soccer history.
Thirty-four seconds into overtime at Lawrence High School, Sidra Besson finished off the moment Lawrence girls soccer had been chasing all night. The senior sprinted toward freshman Layla Simmons, who had just set up the golden goal, and the Lions had a 3-2 Class 6A East regional semifinal win over Blue Valley that sent them on to the regional championship game.
The finish fit a season that had already turned into one of the best in Lawrence girls soccer history. The win gave the Lions their 11th victory of the year and their first-ever regional championship appearance, a milestone that carried extra weight in a late-season stretch when school spirit was already building around graduations, ceremonies and end-of-year events across Lawrence.
That Lawrence reached this point while dealing with injuries made the result even more striking. Simmons had returned from an ankle injury and was still working back to full conditioning, but she still contributed in a decisive way, scoring once and assisting on the overtime winner. Other injuries had forced lineup changes throughout the season, and younger players were asked to take on bigger roles as the Lions adjusted on the fly.
Coach Joe Comparato said the team kept fighting even after defensive mistakes led to Blue Valley goals, and that resilience showed in the way Lawrence answered pressure every time the match tightened. The Blue Valley semifinal was part of a 6A East regional bracket seeded by the Kansas State High School Activities Association on May 16, with Lawrence grouped with a deep field that included Mill Valley, Gardner Edgerton, Blue Valley North, Blue Valley Northwest, Blue Valley West and several Shawnee Mission schools.
Lawrence had already been gaining momentum after a 1-0 senior-night win over Olathe South pushed the team to 10-6. The Blue Valley result carried that surge forward and turned it into something bigger for the program, a breakthrough that reflected both depth and belief. Assistant coach Melle Dye celebrated with the team after the final whistle as the Lions moved one step closer to a regional title and kept their season alive in dramatic fashion.
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