Emporia FC rallied from a 5-1 deficit but ran out of time in a 5-3 defeat to Inter Wichita FC in the first round of the Midwest South Conference playoffs at Emporia High School on Wednesday night. The loss ended the season for the Black Lions and stopped a six-game unbeaten streak for Emporia. Wichita led early but Emporia found the scoreboard in stoppage time in the first half on a goal by Patrick Alouidor. Emporia trailed 5-1 with 30 minutes left in regulation but found the net again with 10 minutes left in regulation when Rafael Soares scored on a play that injured the Wichita goalie. After a stoppage for injury and a keeper switch for the visitors, the Lions seized the momentum by scoring within two minutes of the restart on a tally by Kevin De Andrade. Emporia had a near miss late in regulation and two great looks in stoppage time including one header that missed off the crossbar, but the game was called after just eight extra minutes. Head coach Victor Ibarra said the team did not play to its normal standard and that, in the future, experience will help.
Ibarra said the program showed plenty of growth in just its second year.
The Black Lions wrap up the year 6-2-3, a five-win improvement over last year’s one-win campaign.
