Need to know: State soccer tournament
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By BRENT C. WAGNER / Lincoln Journal Star
What to watch for
1. Omaha South’s boys team is the feel-good story of the tournament. Ten years ago, the Packers hadn’t won a game in several years and had only 13 players in the program. Now, there are 60 players, Omaha South has gone 31-5 the past two seasons and is at state for the first time. With 21 Latino players and one German on the varsity, the team has become a source of pride for a struggling athletic program.
2. If you enjoy high school soccer, you’re in a treat for this year. For the first time, every game of the tournament will be played at Creighton University’s Morrison Stadium. That’s right: six days, 28 games, one field. In recent years, games were also played at Omaha's Tranquility Soccer Complex.
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3. Few teams have the collection of talent of Millard North’s girls team. Five players have accepted or been offered Division I scholarships, and two others will play Division II. Even more offers could be coming. Nebraska recruit Molly Thomas leads this bunch, and has averaged 25 goals per game the past three seasons.
4. The Class A boys field appears to be the widest open of the tournament, and each of the first-round games has the potential to be a good one. Three of the first-round games are rematches. Two of those games went to a shootout, and the other was a one-goal game.
How the Lincoln teams made it to Omaha
Boys
Lincoln East (10-5): A lot of folks thought this may be the season East stayed home, but the Spartans upset Lincoln Southwest in the district final. East hasn’t missed a state tournament since 1992. Southwest probably had more talent than East, but the Spartans found a way to win. They could keep doing that at the state tourney.
Lincoln Lutheran (14-2): Don’t be shocked if Lincoln Lutheran finds a way into the state semifinals for fifth straight season. The Warriors needed one of two wild cards to reach state following another loss against Lincoln Pius X in the district final. Those two could meet again in the state semifinals.
Lincoln Pius X (14-0): Lincoln Pius X is favored to become only the third Class B boys unbeaten state champion. The Thunderbolts rarely have been tested, and they’ve averaged almost five goals per game.
Girls
Lincoln East (10-5): After a rare season away from the state tournament, the Spartans are back by earning the only Class A wild card. Lincoln Southeast beat Lincoln East 1-0 in the district final. The Spartans play fourth-ranked Omaha Westside in its opener. Those two played earlier, with Westside winning 2-1.
Lincoln Southeast (13-3): Southeast is making state a habit, with this being its fifth straight trip. The Knights avenged an earlier loss by beating Lincoln East in the district final. Southeast has won six straight games, including an upset of then top-ranked Millard West.
Lincoln Southwest (12-1): Southwest hasn’t been tested many times this season, but that changes today with a date against defending state champion Millard West. The Silver Hawks, who have yet to score a goal in three trips to state, lost its only game against Omaha Marian.
Lincoln Pius X (11-4): The Thunderbolts needed a wild card to reach state for the 12th straight time after being upset by Norris in the district final. Pius X proved its worth with a win against Omaha Skutt but has had to overcome an injury to big-time goal scorer Nancy Schueth. Before the loss to Norris, all of the Bolts’ losses came against Class A’s best teams.
Other teams to watch
Boys
Waverly (13-3): After dropping three straight games at one point, Waverly has won 10 straight to reach state. OK, it’s probably not that dramatic, because the losses came against three of the best teams in the state (Lincoln Lutheran, Elkhorn and Gretna). Andrew Bundy (16 goals) and Andrew Palmer (14 goals) are the guys to keep an eye on.
York (11-8): Coach Rich Saxer will be using this team as an example for years to come after York avenged previous losses in each of its final three games of the season. York will have a chance to avenge yet another loss with a first-round game against Pius X. Dax Becker and Chris Gruber are the Dukes’ big scorers.
GIRLS
Hastings (13-3): Keep an eye on No. 7. Hannah Wray’s 23 goals account for half of the Tigers’ scoring. Hastings upset Columbus Scotus 2-0 in the district final, good for the Tigers’ fourth straight shut-out victory. With a first-round game against Pius X, Hastings will have a chance to win its first state tournament game in four tries.
Norris (11-4): Norris was supposed to be the team to watch in coming years, but decided the future was now with an upset against Lincoln Pius X in the district final. Samantha Areman scored with 30 seconds remaining to send the Titans to state for the first time. Many of their best players are underclassman, including goalie Ashley Schroeder.
Getting to know the players
Deanne Schmidt, East, senior midfielder
BY THE NUMBERS: A four-year varsity player, she’s the Spartans’ leading scorer with nine goals and six assists. One of her biggest goals came as a freshman, though, when Schmidt scored in the state semifinals, and East won the state title. Schmidt plans to keep playing at St. Olaf (Minn.) College.
WHEN I'M BORED I LIKE TO …: Hang out with friends; go to Holmes Lake.
BEST THING I WATCHED ON TV LAST WEEK: Premier League Soccer: Chelsea vs. Liverpool. “My dad and I really get into soccer.”
EARLIEST SOCCER MEMORY: As third-graders, dumping water bottles on their coaches.
WHY I WEAR JERSEY NO. 1: “When I was a freshman I was the youngest on the team, and had to choose last. Then, I just stuck with No. 1.”
Joe Hilger, Pius X, senior midfielder
BY THE NUMBERS: With seven goals and six assists, Hilger is one of the Thunderbolts’ leading scorers. He was with Pius X when it won state in 2006 and started on last season’s state runner-up team.
TV MARATHON I COULD WATCH ALL DAY: “24.” “Jack Bauer is the man.”
CONCERT I’D PAY $100 TO SEE: Dave Matthews Band. “Some friends got me started on him, and then I saw them in Kansas City. I’m going to see them again this summer.”
BEST GOAL HE SCORED THIS SEASON: It came during a 5-0 victory against Lincoln Lutheran during the regular season. “Lutheran is always a big game, and we’d been used to losing to them, so it was a great game.”
FAVORITE CLASS: calculus.
Sara Berens, Pius X, senior forward
BY THE NUMBERS: She leads the Thunderbolts with eight goals this season. Berens has been on the varsity four seasons, but was injured as a sophomore when Pius X won the state championship. She’ll play soccer next season at Hastings College.
MOST MEMORABLE SOCCER MOMENT: Berens scored the game-winning goal in the final 10 minutes of the Thunderbolts’ upset victory over Omaha Skutt this season.
FAVORITE CLASS: anatomy.
TV MARATHON I COULD WATCH ALL DAY: “Grey’s Anatomy.”
EARLIEST SOCCER MEMORY: Having the same coach, Ron Trauernicht, from ages 5 to 11. She recalls him as fun and inspirational.
FOOD I CAN’T STOP EATING: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Justin Burns, East, senior midfielder
BY THE NUMBERS: His only goal of the season forced overtime in the Spartans’ upset victory over Lincoln Southwest in the district final. As a sophomore, Burns played on Lincoln East’s unbeaten state championship team. He’s considered one of the best defenders/midfielders in the state, and will play at Hastings College.
LAST MEAL I COOKED: “I barbecued steak (Sunday) night.”
BEST SHOW I WATCHED LAST WEEK: Manchester United vs. Barcelona.
BETTER FEELING: KICKING THE GAME-WINNING FIELD GOAL, CATCHING A TOUCHDOWN PASS OR MAKING A PENALTY KICK TO WIN STATE? “For me, I’d like to be the guy that makes that one extra pass, and then see somebody finish that for a score.”
PEOPLE SAY I LOOK LIKE: My dad.
Lindsey Johnston, Southeast, senior defender
BY THE NUMBERS: She has helped Southeast reach state each of the past four seasons. In the district championship, Johnson helped the Knights beat Lincoln East for the first time in eight seasons. She’ll play at Drake next season.
FOOD I JUST CAN'T STOP EATING: Plain mashed potatoes.
MY ONE-AND-ONLY GOAL OF THE SEASON: It came during a win against Papillion-La Vista during the regular season. “It was in the upper 90 percent of the goal, and too high for the goalkeeper to get. It was redemption, because I’d hit the post earlier.”
CHILDHOOD HERO: Nebraska soccer player Lindsay Eddleman. Partly because of her name, and partly because Eddleman was a really good soccer player.
DREAM JOB: accountant or dentist.
Jesse Heibel, Lutheran, senior goalkeeper
BY THE NUMBERS: He had nine shutouts in 16 games, and allowed only 12 goals. Heibel helped the Warriors reach the state finals last season.
PEOPLE SAY I LOOK LIKE: While on a mission trip to Brazil, Heibel was told he looked like Leonardo DiCaprio. “I didn't see it at all.”
BEST SOCCER MEMORY: Beating Pius X in the district final last season for the Warriors’ fourth straight district championship. “For a small school like ours with 200 kids to beat Pius with 900 students, that’s pretty neat to do that.”
BEST THING I READ LAST WEEK: While working the desk at Prairie Life Center, a Newsweek article on Barack Obama.
WEIRDEST THING SEEN OR HEARD ON THE SOCCER FIELD: “Our defender, Chase Lewis, got head-butted in the district game against Beatrice.”
Jami Finnell, Southwest, junior goalie
BY THE NUMBERS: She holds school records for shutouts (10) and goals-against average (.380). She helped Southwest allow only five goals in 13 games.
BEST SHOW I WATCHED LAST WEEK: “Lost.”
HOW’S IT FEEL TO GET A SHUTOUT?: “It’s good for the defense, because defense doesn’t get a lot of press.”
BIGGEST SUPERSTITION: During warm-ups, she faces shots against the wind.
BEST PLAYER I’VE HAD TRY SCORE ON ME: Lincoln Southwest’s Bri Exstrom and Millard North’s Brittney Neumann. “Brittney has a hard shot, and knows right where to place it. Bri has more of a powerful shot.”
FAVORITE CLASS: yearbook. (She’s the student life editor).
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