Central Kansas United, Salina’s United Premiere Soccer League (UPSL) team, won its first-ever Midwest South Championship last Saturday, defeating the Dodge City Toros 3-1 and clinching a club-record ninth win of the season.
The championship match featured a 3-1 final after CKU overcame an early setback: a knee injury sidelined top defender Jorge Mejia four minutes into play, and Dodge City received a penalty kick. The kick struck the post, and from there both teams played a scoreless stretch before CKU broke through in the 44th minute on a designed set piece. Dodge City equalized in the 60th minute, and CKU held firm through late regulation and extra-time pressure before goals by Noel Zimbeva and Rodrigo Palacios sealed the result in overtime. Hundreds of fans packed Bethany College to celebrate the final whistle.
With the league championship secured, CKU now turns to the national tournament. Its first-round opponent is the Arkansas Wolves, and the national tournament begins Sunday, July 5 at 3 p.m. in Tulsa, Oklahoma.