Back on top: After droughts Marian, Pius claim girls titles
For the Nebraska School Activities Association
A familiar face was back in a familiar place Tuesday night.
On top.
Omaha Marian survived a first-half surge before steadying itself for a 2-0 win over Elkhorn South in the Class A girls state soccer final at Morrison Stadium.
Championship No. 15 for the state’s most successful program is the first for the Crusaders since 2017.
“Just high emotions,” Marian coach Teresa DeGeorge said afterwards. “Really proud of the girls.”
Even she admitted that it wasn’t the smoothest of starts, though.
An early barrage from Elkhorn South required the attention of Marian keeper Audrey Connealy on two separate occasions in the first five minutes, and then again ten minutes later. The Storm nearly grabbed the opener shortly after, but a header that appeared to be headed directly for the back of the net was cleared off the line with a high knee by junior defender Caroline Schwab.
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Marian got all the offense it would need off the head of Leena Brunt in the 28th minute.
The sophomore was on the end of a recycled ball back into the mix from teammate Skylar Farley and guided it past Elkhorn South keeper Kenzie Thompson for her team-leading 12th of the season.
“I was just in the right spot at the right time,” Brunt said. “I was hungry for a goal.”
The lead would double just under nine minutes into the second half when Cooper Dally’s blast from the top right corner of the box took a deflection off the foot of a defender and looped over the head of Thompson. It went into the book as an own goal.
That was more than enough for Connealy and a Marian defense that registered its 15th shutout of the season, blanking an Elkhorn South side that was averaging over four goals per game coming in.
DeGeorge called the performance Tuesday a “total team effort.”
“Second half, we just dominated,” said DeGeorge. “We got stronger as the game went on, just because that’s who we are. Our grittiness has grown in the last three weeks immensely, even beyond what I thought was possible.”
It was the rubber match this season between the two sides. Elkhorn South won 1-0 in overtime when they met in the Metro Conference tournament semifinals, with Marian then returning the favor nine days later — a 2-0 result.
Marian played in last year’s Class A final, losing 2-1 to Lincoln Southwest, their third straight setback in a state championship match.
That streak now over, the Crusaders’ 15 titles are eight more than their nearest competition (Millard North). Asked afterwards what it was about the program that allows it to thrive, DeGeorge pointed to its culture.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them and the growth that they’ve had,” she said.
Class B: After title game heartbreak, Pius nets first championship since 2005
Two out of nowhere made the third try the charm for Class B’s No. 1 team. A pair of Bolts, you could call them.
Goals less than 90 seconds apart lifted top-ranked Lincoln Pius X to a 2-1 win over undefeated Blair for the title in the Class B girls state championship match Tuesday night at Morrison Stadium.
It was the first title since 2005 for the Thunderbolts, who were playing in the championship round for the third consecutive season.
“Long overdue,” Pius coach Steve Anderson said, “and I’ll take it every day and Sunday. This is a great feeling. Just getting here is such an honor, it just shows the effort these girls have got.”
A feeling-out process through the first 25 minutes produced little in the chances for either side before Pius turned up the heat. Even after seeing a penalty kick snuffed out by Blair keeper Regan Blattert, the Thunderbolts wouldn’t be turned away.
Margo O’Donnell found the back post on a shot from the top of the box and just left of goal, threading a ball through a pair of defenders that caught Blattert a bit by surprise.
It was just the second goal of the season for the junior O’Donnell.
“We worked on that shot every day in practice,” she said. “I saw my slot and I just took it.”
Pius would need only 85 seconds to double the lead.
A corner from the right side off the foot of Brooke Thomsen found the head of Ava Kolm in the mix, putting a shock into the previously unbeaten Bears. It was the fourth goal of the tournament for Kolm, who had a hat trick in an opening-round win for Pius.
“We’re a team that is really focused on being well-rounded, getting everything out of everybody,” Anderson said. “If everybody contributes, good things are going to happen. They demonstrated that tonight.”
His team wasn’t out of the woods yet, though.
Blair, which had an 11-9 advantage in shots on the night, drew one back early in the second half, getting a quick goal from standout forward Cadence Field.
The sophomore got to a ball ahead, dipped around the lone remaining defender in the box, then beat hard-charging Pius keeper Emma Miller low. It was the 33rd of the season for Field, the most in Class B.
She found the back of the net in all five postseason matches for the Bears.
“Hats off to Blair,” Anderson said. “That’s a great squad that’s got a great future; we were just lucky to outlast them tonight.”
His team led into the final minute of the 2024 Class A championship match before surrendering a late equalizer and eventually falling in a shootout. The Thunderbolts then ran up against an historically great Gretna East side in last year’s Class B final, a 5-0 loss.
“We were ready to go back in August,” Anderson said. “It’s just a great group of young women that didn’t have any quit in them this year. They just took care of business and we’re here.”
