2026 Season Comes to a Close

Quick housekeeping before the match itself, because the schedule flipped on everyone late.

Northland were originally set to play Real OP this past weekend, but Real OP couldn't field enough players and had to forfeit. Northland claims the three points there, full stop. What was supposed to be a Wednesday date, 08/05/2026, with Southside FC got moved up to fill that open weekend instead. Three points against Real OP, and no match happening this Wednesday, because it already happened.

That's a lot of adjusting to do in a short amount of time, and you could feel it walking in. This wasn't the match anyone had circled on the calendar, and there wasn't much time to reset for it.

The Venue Matched the Occasion

Select League got invited to play at Paragon Soccer Complex this past weekend, and it felt like the right stage for a season finale, scheduling chaos and all. It raises the temperature a little before the whistle even blows.

First Half: A Bind

Northland never quite settled. Balls were under-hit all half, and a string of offside calls kept killing anything that looked promising before it could develop. Southside had the wind at their backs and used it, building momentum through the half. Then came the moment that decided it a missed pass from Northland found its way into a dangerous spot in the defensive half, and Southside pounced. 1-0 Southside at the break, and it felt like the wind wasn't the only thing working against Northland in that first 45.

Second Half: A Different Gear

The wind flipped in Northland's favor to start the second half, but so did Southside's level. Whatever gear they found, Northland never quite matched it. Fabio did produce a genuine highlight a worldie that beat Southside's keeper, Mario, clean. But one moment of brilliance wasn't enough to answer a Southside squad that looked like it had real chemistry running through it all afternoon. We closed the Select League season out dropping the ball 4-1.

How Close Select League Was

Turn our three draws into wins and the title conversation looks completely different. Three more goals and Northland clinches it outright. That's how tight this actually was, and it's why the season is so hard to just walk away from. We had the talent but not the finish three goals, three wins all we needed. It didn't start clean either: a postponement against Barilleros, who later withdrew from the Select League, a friendly, against Fountain City called off the day it was supposed to happen, a couple weeks where it genuinely felt like this thing might not get off the ground.

Once that passed, Northland played every match with real pride for the badge. Two draws against eventual League Winners Merriam, points dropped to MWPL's Southside FC, and against Emporia a draw plus a loss that Bryce still kicks himself over. By the Law of the Game, Emporia should have subbed off their keeper that day; the Spirit of the Game kept him on instead. Whether it would've changed the final standings, we'll never know. Yet through all of it, Lucas DeHaan drove in from Columbia twice a week for training and matches, no small commitment, and closes the season with a State Cup title on his resume and USASA Nationals still ahead.

Northland finishes third in Select League, right on the outside of USOC qualifying. Close enough to feel it, far enough to still sting. But the Kansas State Cup already punched a different ticket regional and national USASA competition, a real stage earned the hard way. The season's closed, but planning for 2027 is already underway behind the scenes. There's more to look forward to than to mourn here, even on a day like today.

FOR THE NORTHLAND! UP NORTH!