Pictured: Salina South seniors Adrian Lara-Castro (left) and Yaden Montanez both scored Tuesday in the Cougars’ 3-1 playoff victory over Andover. Lara-Castro is South’s top all-time goal scorer while Montanez has the school career assist record.

Adrian Lara-Castro and Yaden Montanez already had established themselves as one of the most prolific scoring duos in Salina South soccer history.

Last week, on senior night no less, they made it official.

In a 4-0 victory over Valley Center last Thursday to close out the regular season, Lara-Castro broke both the school single season and career records for goals, while Montanez did the same with the assist marks. And they’re not done yet.

Both Lara-Castro and Montanez scored goals and Lara-Castro had the only assist Tuesday as South advanced to the Class 5A West Regional 2 final with a 3-1 victory over Andover. The Cougars (12-5) face Newton (15-2) for the regional title at 6 p.m. Thursday in Newton.

Regardless of how the season ends — the Cougars are playing in their fifth consecutive regional final and looking to reach the state quarterfinals for a fourth straight year — Lara-Castro and Martinez have left an indelible mark on the program.

Head coach Trey Crow

“They did it together on senior night, and I thought there was no more special time than that,” South coach Trey Crow said of the school records. “They’ve played together since they were probably 3 or 4 years old, and they just have a connection that you don’t see very often.”

With his goal against Andover, Lara-Castro extended his season record to 34 and career mark to 65. He also picked up his seventh assist on Montanez’s goal. Montanez has a record 20 assists this season and 33 for his career, with 16 goals this year.

“I actually didn’t know (about the potential records) until a week before,” Montanez said. “Being able to do something like that with Adrian, it feels amazing.”

Senior Yaden Montanez

“We had been training a lot during the offseason, and that hard work paid off here on the field. Me and him have grown up together since we were in diapers and been playing soccer with each other all our life.”

Lara-Castro, the team’s only four-year starter, did not have his mind on individual records heading into his senior season. South faced a serious rebuilding job with only three starters back from last year’s state quarterfinal team.

“I was more focused on getting the team together and trying to build the chemistry,” Lara-Castro said. “I wasn’t really focused on (the record), but I’m glad I achieved it.”

He also appreciated breaking the records on the same night as Montanez achieved his milestones.

Senior Adrian Lara-Castro

“I think it’s just an amazing connection between me and Yaden,” Lara-Castro said. “We just know what we’re going to do without even looking at each other. It just clicks.”

Lara-Castro and Montanez broke the single season records both held by Jose Escobedo, a member of South’s 2015 state championship team. Escobedo had 31 goals and 19 assists that year, including the game winner in overtime of the championship game.

Crow knew going into the season that the Cougars would have to lean on their two seniors for offense. He even tinkered with their roles a bit early on to maximize the scoring potential.

“Adrian was starting in the midfield at the start of the year, and those first couple of games we weren’t getting a lot of chances,” Crow said. “Once we moved him up top and put him in a position where he could finish, he really stepped up.”

“And then Yaden can play any ball, and he’s very dangerous because not only can he play the ball, but he can shoot and finish.”

Montanez and Lara-Castro would like nothing more than to go out on top as a team as well.

“I think finally we connected our pieces,” Lara-Castro said of South’s current four-game winning streak. “We just have to play as a team now, but I think we’re playing well.”

Montanez agreed.

“I think we’re all pretty motivated,” he said. “Those younger kids said they want to send the seniors off, and I just want to try my hardest for the last time my senior year.”

“It’s kind of crazy. The (years) all flew by so fast.”