Nebraska Soccer Preview: Huskers Batter Dakotas in Warm-Up Matches

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The Nebraska Women’s Soccer team played host to the University of South Dakota Coyotes and North Dakota State University Bison.  The Huskers made the games tough for the two Summit League sides from the Dakotas.  The Nebraska attack kept two shutouts while scoring 5 goals against USD on Wednesday (8/11) and 8 goals against NDSU on Friday (8/13). Nebraska fans were able to get an early look at the young attack that features highly-rated prep goalscorers Sarah Weber, Haley Peterson, Allison Napora, and Abbey Schwarz.  Coach John Walker handed debuts to most, if not all, of the new players in these two games and the Huskers fans also got to see the depth of the roster in this exhibition. As was true with the Omaha-Iowa State exhibition, the exhibition format is usually not good for game breakdowns and analysis, so below are some observations that we saw from the NDSU exhibition. Firepower Up Front Eleanor Dale, the sophomore forward from England, was a force early last Spring for the Huskers before being sidelined by injury.  Dale can score goals in multiple ways, which she showcased on Friday vs the NDSU Bison.  She scored an incredible header goal from a corner kick to open the scoring for the Huskers, and she followed that up in the second period with a great piece of skill followed by a cool finish.  If Dale can score consistently, the Huskers will be in good shape. The Husker attack as a whole is both youthful and talented.  Reagan Raabe returns after a promising freshman year Spring season.  She will probably see time in both the midfield and the forward line.  Abbey Schwarz, Haley Peterson, Allison Napora, and Sarah Weber all look to be promising additions to the forward line.  The coaching staff won’t be lacking options up top, that is a guarantee. Senior Leadership While most of the attack is on the younger side of things, the core and spine of the team behind them has some considerable experience.  Seniors Dakota Chan and Theresa Pujado patrolled the midfield area against North Dakota State, while Seniors Ashley Zugay and Grace Brown slotted into their spots in the center of the backline. One player that was missing against NDSU who will be vital to the Husker success this year was Kenzie Coons.  Coons, who is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained this summer playing in the UWS league, is an important piece of the Husker midfield.  If she is in the game it may allow the Huskers to move Raabe forward into a more dangerous and attacking role. Set Piece Practice The Huskers got a lot of set piece practice on Friday against NDSU.  The Huskers won 10 corner kicks, scoring off 2, and had several other dangerous free kick opportunities.  The Huskers are definitely not the tallest team in the Big Ten, but they have some quality set piece sets and some dangerous targets that should help them score goals this season. Goal production from set pieces for the Huskers is going to be important.  The Huskers finished last in the Big 10 in goals scored this past Spring, and they finished second to last in 2019.  While they have added some dynamic attacking pieces, they are going to need to execute from dead ball situations to help increase their goal totals and tip tight games more in their favor.  Set piece success can turn close losses into draws and draws into wins. Stoneburner Returns To Action Katie Stoneburner made her Husker debut this Fall in these two exhibition matches, coming off the bench both times.  What Stoneburner’s role will be exactly is still uncertain (for me, I am sure the coaches and Katie know her role going forward).  She is a midfielder, but we have heard rumblings that there could be a move to the backline in the cards for her.  Gwen Lane has made the switch from forward to outside back, and so far that has proven to be successful for the player and the program.  I have no doubt that this potential move could pay off in a similar way for Stoneburner and the program. The bigger reason that Stoneburner’s return is noteworthy is because she is returning from a COVID-related heart condition she battled last year.  Katie is a good storyteller, and her YouTube channel is a great place to start if you are interested in an inside look on the Husker program and the players. Unanswered Questions A couple unanswered questions as the Huskers head into the beginning of their season.  At the time of writing this, they have not kicked off against Western Illinois yet. First, who is going to be the Husker number one goalkeeper?  Junior Makinzie Short was the starter and primary goalkeeper last Spring, but the Huskers have added Sophomore Arizona transfer Sami Hauk to the fold.  Short and Hauk split time fairly equally in the exhibition games, and I am not sure how Coach Walker and the coaching staff handle goalkeeper competitions, if there is one.  We aren’t at every training session either, where a lot of goalkeeper competitions are decided as well.  Both goalkeepers have the ability to do well for the Huskers. Second, how will the Huskers fare as their competition gets tougher?  The Huskers open up with their third Summit League opponent in Western Illinois.  After that, their schedule gets significantly tougher in a hurry.  The Big 10 is no picnic as a soccer conference either.  It’s all well and good to watch Sarah Weber ghost past three defenders and the goalkeeper to put the ball in an empty net (that was the goal of the game for the Huskers against NDSU), but can she do that on cool Fall Sunday in Minneapolis, Minnesota?  Abbey Schwarz and Allison Napora terrorized the wings of USD and NDSU, but can they do that to Iowa?  Haley Peterson put some NDSU defenders on skates, but how will she handle Wisconsin defenders?  The answer to those questions are unknown, but I am looking forward to finding out. Third, will the Huskers truly finish 12th in the Big 10?  The Huskers have had a tough run the last few seasons, and what has made it tougher has been that the Huskers have been competitive in most of their games.  This isn’t a team that is getting regularly blown out by conference or non-conference opponents.  The Huskers losing games by multiple goals is not a regular occurrence.  Could the Huskers finish 12th?  Yes.  Could they finish 6th?  Also, yes.  The margins are fairly thin game-to-game in the Big 10, and if a team can get on a run of results, even over 2 weekends, that can shift the season. Final Thoughts The exhibition game against NDSU was fun.  There was a great crowd, the atmosphere was great, and the Huskers put on an attacking show for the fans.  Hibner is a fantastic venue for the sport.  I think the Huskers enter this season with a determination to improve on past years, and it will be interesting to watch them have a go at a difficult schedule.

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Mavericks Fall To Cyclones In Season Opening Exhibition

The Omaha Maverick Women’s Soccer team hosted the Iowa State Cyclones in a very early season exhibition.  The two teams played three, 30-minute periods, and fans were able to see most of the 2021 Maverick roster.  While the rain held off, the Mavericks were unable to hold off the Cyclones conceding a corner kick goal in the third period.

 Head Coach Tim Walters was able to hand debuts to four freshmen (Cece Behrens, Sena Ahovissi, Reagan Bourgeois, and Kayla Futakami) and three transfers (Mo Gohr, Meg Nemnich, and Rachel Thigpen).  Despite all of the new faces, Maverick fans would have noticed almost no changes from the starting line-up from Spring 2021 to opening day of Fall 2021.  The Mavericks are a team of youthful experience, but they are led by Senior Centerback Margaret LaVigne and Senior Forward Andrea Daves.

Exhibitions typically aren’t great for true game breakdowns, so below are some general thoughts about the Mavericks’ season from the game today.  Important not to read too much into the game as both teams have been into their season for less than a week.

New Players Show Well

I was impressed by the early showings of the new Mavericks.  Former Skutt Skyhawk standout Behrens made appearances in both the midfield and the defense, though I thought she was better in the former.  Even as a freshman, Behrens looks the part on the field.  Ahovissi, who was an integral part of Millard North’s successful 2021 season, showed well at outside back, showing good pace and defensive ability.  Bourgeouis and Futakami are the two freshmen I am least familiar with, but their performances today bode well for the future both this season and beyond.  As the freshmen continue to grow more comfortable with the team and the level of play, I expect them to come out of their shell and grow in their aggressiveness and speed of play

Gohr, a Kansas State transfer who trained with the Mavs this Spring, started up top for the Mavericks and should help generate more goal-scoring chances.  Nemnich, a Memphis transfer, will provide good competition and support in the midfield.  Finally, Rachel Thigpen, who had an outstanding career at NAIA Midland University, will provide some extra competition and mentorship for the other goalkeepers on the roster.  In the brief moments from Saturday’s scrimmage, it is of my opinion that Thigpen could have been a NCAA Division I goalkeeper her entire career, but she probably wouldn’t trade the success and experience she had at Midland for that.

Playing Out Of The Back

While it is early days for the Fall 2021 season, the Maverick backline showed signs of some of the things I saw them struggle with last season at times.  Composure on the ball, decision making, and execution when playing the ball out of the back caused some breakdowns last Spring, and we saw some of that again on Saturday.  There was some experimentation in the backline which certainly can lead to mistakes, and if you take Margaret Lavigne out of the equation the backline is quite young still.  I have no doubt that this will be an area of great growth, as the players the Mavericks have in the back are both talented enough and experienced enough to improve.  I expect that by the time conference season rolls around, some of those issues will be drastically improved or completely resolved.

Promising Midfield

Put aside the usual early season match sharpness critiques, and the Omaha midfield is looking very promising.  I think fans are going to enjoy watching both the starters and the depth that comes off the bench this season.  The coaching staff may have some selection headaches (in a good way) later this season and in the future, depending on how all of the players develop.  Regan Zimmers is an incredibly hard worker and covers an amazing amount of ground.  Grace Ostergaard is a tough but skilled player with already a ton of experience (over 1,500 minutes in the Spring).  Emilie Erland, Behrens, Meg Nemnich, Gracie Parsons, and Bourgeouis all bring something different to the table and give Coach Walters plenty of options this season.

Set Pieces

One thing I thought the Mavericks did really during the Spring 2021 season was both their attacking and defending of set pieces.  This was an area of struggle for them on Saturday, as Iowa State generated their best chances and eventually their goal off of set pieces.  The Mavericks did not generate much from their own corner kicks, but again, this is something I expect them to turn around.

I paid special attention to Behrens when she was in the mix for corner kicks.  Behrens was an incredible set piece target in her prep career and I expect that to continue into her college career.  She didn’t get on the end of a set piece on Saturday, but she escaped her marker every single time the Mavs had a set piece and she was on the field.

 

The Press

One thing I thought the Mavs did really well for early in the season was how they pressed and defended as a team at times.  When Iowa State had the ball in their backline, the Maverick forwards, midfielders, and outside backs did a great job of pressing and defending together causing Iowa State to play long or turn the ball over.  The Mavericks were a tough team to break down last season, and I expect that to continue this Fall.  This is something that is a very positive early season sign for the Mavericks, and leads into my next point.

 

Creating Chances

I think it is sometimes the most frustrating thing about early season exhibitions.  The attackers haven’t quite found their rhythm or connection yet.  That alone can be frustrating, and it is even more difficult when coming up against a challenging, Power 5 opponent.  The Mavericks return both Sophia Green (Summit League Newcomer of the Year) and Daves (UNO Division I career leader in assists) and also welcome Gohr to the attacking fold.  I think the Mavericks will fare better in the attack than they did on Saturday, but it may take a few games for the players and coaches to find the right combinations and the sharpness.

 

Final Thoughts

For a first week exhibition match against a Big XII opponent, I think the Mavericks played well.  It’s less than a month until Nebraska Soccer Talk plans on being in attendance for the UN derby, when the Mavericks travel down the road to take on the Cornhuskers.  I for one am really excited to see the growth between now and then.

 

The Mavericks play their entire conference season in the month of March this year, starting with Denver on October 1st and ending with South Dakota on Halloween.  My prediction and expectations for the Mavericks is another top 4 finish in the Summit League, and a trip to the 2021 Summit League Tournament.

 

Get To Know Me (Future of the Game) – Mia McVay

At Nebraska Soccer Talk, we love covering everything soccer related. For the most part, that means covering games and providing analysis/opinions. However, our overall mission and purpose is far reaching and ambitious. Our goal is to bring the soccer community closer together through collaboration and communication.  There are countless people that deserve recognition for their efforts as a player, official, or coach. Throughout the year, we will be highlighting these individuals through our Get To Know Me articles.

This will be a series made up of three different components. All of which is meant to bring attention to the soccer community.

  1. Get To Know Me (Coach Edition) – These individuals are responsible for building their programs, growing the game of soccer, and mentoring the next generation. We look forward to learning about their lives and philosophies.
  2. Get To Know Me (Player Edition) – This article series will focus on high school juniors and seniors that have demonstrated themselves to be quality players and people. With these features, our community will learn about some of the most impressive players in the state.
  3. Future of the Game – This article series will focus on the freshmen and sophomore classes. These are players that we will be covering for years to come.

Thank you to every individual that provided information for this idea. We appreciate your thoughtful and timely responses.

Mia McVay

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Sara McVay and John McVay

High School Soccer Team: Girls Bellevue West High School Soccer Varsity Team

Position: Left defender

Club Team: Evolution Soccer Club 6

Grade: 9th

What is your favorite subject in school? Why?

History because I find it interesting to learn about what life was like in the past.

What are your goals as an individual player? What are you doing to achieve those goals?

My goals as an individual player is to earn an opportunity to play college soccer. In order to reach those goals, I am going to continue to work hard all the time, stay determined, focus on improving my skills, and be a good teammate. 

Who’s your favorite soccer player and why? 

Marcelo Vieira because he plays the same position as me. I also like watching how he masters that position, which helps me out with skills and things I can do in that position during my games.

 

Thank you for reading and being a part of our new community. A like, share, comment, or recommendation of content would be greatly appreciated. In order to financially support our efforts, sponsorship/partnership opportunities have become available. Sponsors will receive vast exposure to the Nebraska soccer community through different media avenues. The sponsorship process is easy and reasonable.

Contact us on our website or email @ nebraskasoccertalk@gmail.com.

Connect with us on TwitterInstagram, or listen to our podcast.

Get To Know Me (Future of the Game) – Madelyn White

At Nebraska Soccer Talk, we love covering everything soccer related. For the most part, that means covering games and providing analysis/opinions. However, our overall mission and purpose is far reaching and ambitious. Our goal is to bring the soccer community closer together through collaboration and communication.  There are countless people that deserve recognition for their efforts as a player, official, or coach. Throughout the year, we will be highlighting these individuals through our Get To Know Me articles.

This will be a series made up of three different components. All of which is meant to bring attention to the soccer community.

  1. Get To Know Me (Coach Edition) – These individuals are responsible for building their programs, growing the game of soccer, and mentoring the next generation. We look forward to learning about their lives and philosophies.
  2. Get To Know Me (Player Edition) – This article series will focus on high school juniors and seniors that have demonstrated themselves to be quality players and people. With these features, our community will learn about some of the most impressive players in the state.
  3. Future of the Game – This article series will focus on the freshmen and sophomore classes. These are players that we will be covering for years to come.

Thank you to every individual that provided information for this idea. We appreciate your thoughtful and timely responses.

Madelyn White

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Michael and Gillian White

High School Soccer Team: Gretna High School Girls Varsity Soccer

Position: Right and Left forward, but sometimes center forward

Club Team: Midwest Premier Academy NPL ‘04

Grade: I am currently in my Sophomore year (10th)

What is your favorite subject in school? Why?

My favorite subject in school is Biology because I feel it comes easy to me.  I love learning about all the different cells and how species have evolved.

What are your goals as an individual player? What are you doing to achieve those goals? 

My goals as an individual player are to become unpredictable and move off the ball better.  To achieve these goals, I come to practice ready to work hard and learn from not only my coaches but my teammates as well.  I will also train on my own.  A future goal of mine is to play ball in college and beyond.

Who’s your favorite soccer player and why?

Tobin Heath is by far my favorite player because she is athletic, passionate, and a great leader. Tobin gives her all every game and takes control of the field.

 

Thank you for reading and being a part of our new community. A like, share, comment, or recommendation of content would be greatly appreciated. In order to financially support our efforts, sponsorship/partnership opportunities have become available. Sponsors will receive vast exposure to the Nebraska soccer community through different media avenues. The sponsorship process is easy and reasonable.

Contact us on our website or email @ nebraskasoccertalk@gmail.com.

Connect with us on TwitterInstagram, or listen to our podcast.

 

Get To Know Me (Player Spotlight) – Cole Hoppe

At Nebraska Soccer Talk, we love covering everything soccer related. For the most part, that means covering games and providing analysis/opinions. However, our overall mission and purpose is far reaching and ambitious. Our goal is to bring the soccer community closer together through collaboration and communication.  There are countless people that deserve recognition for their efforts as a player, official, or coach. Throughout the year, we will be highlighting these individuals through our Get To Know Me articles.

This will be a series made up of three different components. All of which is meant to bring attention to the soccer community.

  1. Get To Know Me (Coach Edition) – These individuals are responsible for building their programs, growing the game of soccer, and mentoring the next generation. We look forward to learning about their lives and philosophies.
  2. Get To Know Me (Player Edition) – This article series will focus on high school juniors and seniors that have demonstrated themselves to be quality players and people. With these features, our community will learn about some of the most impressive players in the state.
  3. Future of the Game – This article series will focus on the freshmen and sophomore classes. These are players that we will be covering for years to come.

Thank you to every individual that provided information for this idea. We appreciate your thoughtful and timely responses.

Cole Hoppe

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Maureen and Scott Hoppe
High School Soccer Team: Bellevue West Boys
Position: Center Back
Club Team: Gretna Elite Academy 03’ NPL
Grade: Senior
What is your favorite subject in school? Why?
Math; I’ve always been pretty good at it and enjoy problem solving
What are your future plans? 
I’m continuing my academic and athletic career at William Jewell College
Who’s your favorite soccer player and why?
Virgil Van Dijk; He is arguably the best defender in the world so he is a great player to analyze and learn.
Throughout your high school career, you have undoubtedly learned many lessons and matured as a player. Based on those lessons and experiences, give three pieces of advice to your freshman self. 
Don’t take any training session for granted. Being disciplined enough to do the little things everyday will make a big difference later. Take care of your body outside of training with your recovery, it is very important.
Who has helped you become the player that you are today? How did they help you? Is there anything you would like to tell them?
Many people have helped me in becoming the player I am today and I am blessed to have so many supportive people in my life. My club team and coach Chris Dunford really pushed me to becoming a better player though. I’m very thankful to be apart of that team.

Thank you for reading and being a part of our new community. A like, share, comment, or recommendation of content would be greatly appreciated. In order to financially support our efforts, sponsorship/partnership opportunities have become available. Sponsors will receive vast exposure to the Nebraska soccer community through different media avenues. The sponsorship process is easy and reasonable.

Contact us on our website or email @ nebraskasoccertalk@gmail.com.

Connect with us on TwitterInstagram, or listen to our podcast.

Get To Know Me (Player Spotlight) – Alyssa Judkins

At Nebraska Soccer Talk, we love covering everything soccer related. For the most part, that means covering games and providing analysis/opinions. However, our overall mission and purpose is far reaching and ambitious. Our goal is to bring the soccer community closer together through collaboration and communication.  There are countless people that deserve recognition for their efforts as a player, official, or coach. Throughout the year, we will be highlighting these individuals through our Get To Know Me articles.

This will be a series made up of three different components. All of which is meant to bring attention to the soccer community.

  1. Get To Know Me (Coach Edition) – These individuals are responsible for building their programs, growing the game of soccer, and mentoring the next generation. We look forward to learning about their lives and philosophies.
  2. Get To Know Me (Player Edition) – This article series will focus on high school juniors and seniors that have demonstrated themselves to be quality players and people. With these features, our community will learn about some of the most impressive players in the state.
  3. Future of the Game – This article series will focus on the freshmen and sophomore classes. These are players that we will be covering for years to come.

Thank you to every individual that provided information for this idea. We appreciate your thoughtful and timely responses.

 

Alyssa Judkins

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Barb and Greg Judkins

High School Soccer Team: Burke Girls Varsity Soccer

Position: Center back (left)

Club Team: Sporting Omaha FC 2002/2003  Premier

Grade: 12

 

What is your favorite subject in school? Why?

Physics. I like the math processes of it, figuring out  how things work, and it helps that I have a really great physics teacher at Burke.

What are your future plans?

I’ll be attending Creighton University  playing soccer there and majoring in a science or math field.

Who’s your favorite soccer player and why?

My favorite current women’s player is Kelly O’Hara. She’s the type of defender that I always wanted  to be, aggressive, competitive, smart, and has the ability to get forward and join the attack. I also just  love watching her play because you see just how competitive she is and how she fights for every  single ball throughout the entire game no matter what.

My favorite current men’s player is Heung-Min Son. He is a forward/midfielder for the English Premier  League team, Tottenham, which happens to be my favorite team in the EPL. Son is so extremely fun to  watch. With his insane speed and his vision of the field, he’s such a pure goal scorer, especially with his  partner forward Harry Kane. I also really appreciate how his reaction when he scores a goal never changes, even after scoring so many in his career. His love for the game is still as strong as ever.

Throughout your high school career, you have undoubtedly learned many lessons and matured as a  player. Based on those lessons and experiences, give three pieces of advice to your freshman self.  

  • Trust your instincts: A lot of times, especially as an underclassman, you may think or want to  do something a certain way, but your brain gets in the way saying that you must be wrong,  “you’re just a freshman”. But most of the time you know yourself the best, therefore know  the best way for you to succeed. Trust your gut and be confident that your knowledge of the  game is just as strong as anyone else’s.

  • Take everything as a learning experience: High school soccer can be very different from club soccer, and sometimes very intimidating. You are joining a whole new player pool and trying  to make an impact with this new group of people that you barely know. But with every new  experience comes a chance to learn new things. Even if things aren’t going the way you  thought they would, take the chance to learn new things, try a new position, or work on your  technical or tactical skills. Keep getting better, no matter the situation.

  • Don’t let others affect your work ethic: This is a lesson I got from a past club coach, Jake  Watson. Going into high school season, I knew that it would be a lot different from club. I  wouldn’t have my teammates to push me and have that external force driving me forward.  So, when you lose one driving force, you need to create another within yourself. You need to  learn to motivate yourself and even if the others around you aren’t working hard, do the extra  sprint, stay focused on your technique, and try to perfect every part of your game.

Who has helped you become the player that you are today? How did they help you? Is there anything  you would like to tell them?

There are 2 coaches who have made me into the player I am today, both of whom have taught me  completely different, but extremely important lessons about the game of soccer. The first, and  possibly the most influential, was one of my first club coaches, Sean McCoy. He was my coach from  the age of 11 to 13. During those years, Sean taught me the grit, the physicality, and the raw mentality  of the game of soccer. He also began the process of building my leadership and confidence on and off  the field. His coaching is what built me from the ground up. The lesson’s he taught me were exactly  what I needed at that age that allowed my love for the game to grow as the years went on. The  second coach who was a huge influence on my game was Alex Mason. Alex taught me the intellectual  side of the game. The importance of watching soccer, my technical ability, and my tactical awareness  were all built from the lessons he taught me as my coach. The combination of the two coach’s abilities  to build every part of my game was so instrumental to my progression as player. But through their  years of coaching they never forgot to teach me how soccer is a sport that requires you to love the  game. Through the good and the bad, they encouraged me to always enjoy playing like it was the last  time I would ever touch a ball. For that and for the immense time they have spent helping me and  training me, I would like to give them a huge thank you. I will always remember the lessons you  taught me and will use them for the rest of my life.

Could you see yourself coaching soccer someday? Is that a path that you are interested? 

Coaching is an interesting thing to me. I do love the tactical side of soccer and teaching or helping  people understand that side of the game has always been one of my favorite parts. But coaching is  still a very daunting task for me to look at. Because I’ve had such great and incredible coaches it  seems almost impossible to step into their shoes and do the same thing they’ve done. It’s like the standard for coaching is so incredibly high that I feel very hesitant to attempt it. But if the chance  were to ever come to me someday, I think my competitive spirit would definitely take over and I would have to give it a go.

 

Thank you for reading and being a part of our new community. A like, share, comment, or recommendation of content would be greatly appreciated. In order to financially support our efforts, sponsorship/partnership opportunities have become available. Sponsors will receive vast exposure to the Nebraska soccer community through different media avenues. The sponsorship process is easy and reasonable.

Contact us on our website or email @ nebraskasoccertalk@gmail.com.

Connect with us on TwitterInstagram, or listen to our podcast.

Get To Know Me (Player Spotlight) – Riley Wrhel

At Nebraska Soccer Talk, we love covering everything soccer related. For the most part, that means covering games and providing analysis/opinions. However, our overall mission and purpose is far reaching and ambitious. Our goal is to bring the soccer community closer together through collaboration and communication.  There are countless people that deserve recognition for their efforts as a player, official, or coach. Throughout the year, we will be highlighting these individuals through our Get To Know Me articles.

This will be a series made up of three different components. All of which is meant to bring attention to the soccer community.

  1. Get To Know Me (Coach Edition) – These individuals are responsible for building their programs, growing the game of soccer, and mentoring the next generation. We look forward to learning about their lives and philosophies.
  2. Get To Know Me (Player Edition) – This article series will focus on high school juniors and seniors that have demonstrated themselves to be quality players and people. With these features, our community will learn about some of the most impressive players in the state.
  3. Future of the Game – This article series will focus on the freshmen and sophomore classes. These are players that we will be covering for years to come.

Thank you to every individual that provided information for this idea. We appreciate your thoughtful and timely responses.

 

Riley Wrhel

Parent/Guardian: Janet Wrhel

High School Team: Lincoln Northeast High School Girls Soccer

Position: I typically play center defensive midfielder

Grade: I am a senior

What is your favorite subject in school? Why? 

My favorite subject is science because ever since i was younger I enjoyed all the aspects that went into it and the chemical reactions.

What are your future plans?

I will be continuing my academic and soccer career at Hastings College

Who’s your favorite soccer player and why?

My favorite soccer player is Carli Lloyd. She is a big team player and never gives up no matter what obstacles are thrown at her. Her mentality is what I dream of having.

Throughout your high school career, you have undoubtedly learned many lessons and matured as a player. Based on those lessons and experiences, give three pieces of advice to your freshman self.

When I was a freshman I came into the team very nervous and with little to no confidence in my abilities. I would probably tell freshman me that it’s ok to make mistakes but you have to recover quickly from them and not dwell on the past. I would also probably tell her that it doesn’t matter what other people say about you or your abilities, you know who you are and that’s all that matters. Finally I would tell her to just relax and have fun. It’s only high school.

Who has helped you become the player that you are today? How did they help you? Is there anything you would like to tell them?

The main people that have helped me become who I am are my coaches and my teammates. They are supportive and help whenever I need help but push enough where it makes me want to be better. The main thing I would like to tell them is just Thank you. Thank you for always being there and helping me.

 

Thank you for reading and being a part of our new community. A like, share, comment, or recommendation of content would be greatly appreciated. In order to financially support our efforts, sponsorship/partnership opportunities have become available. Sponsors will receive vast exposure to the Nebraska soccer community through different media avenues. The sponsorship process is easy and reasonable.

Contact us on our website or email @ nebraskasoccertalk@gmail.com.

Connect with us on TwitterInstagram, or listen to our podcast.

Get To Know Me (Future of the Game) – Elizabeth Brezenski

At Nebraska Soccer Talk, we love covering everything soccer related. For the most part, that means covering games and providing analysis/opinions. However, our overall mission and purpose is far reaching and ambitious. Our goal is to bring the soccer community closer together through collaboration and communication.  There are countless people that deserve recognition for their efforts as a player, official, or coach. Throughout the year, we will be highlighting these individuals through our Get To Know Me articles.

This will be a series made up of three different components. All of which is meant to bring attention to the soccer community.

  1. Get To Know Me (Coach Edition) – These individuals are responsible for building their programs, growing the game of soccer, and mentoring the next generation. We look forward to learning about their lives and philosophies.
  2. Get To Know Me (Player Edition) – This article series will focus on high school juniors and seniors that have demonstrated themselves to be quality players and people. With these features, our community will learn about some of the most impressive players in the state.
  3. Future of the Game – This article series will focus on the freshmen and sophomore classes. These are players that we will be covering for years to come.

Thank you to every individual that provided information for this idea. We appreciate your thoughtful and timely responses.

 Elizabeth (Libbie) Brezenski

 

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Kristie and Jon Brezenski
High School Soccer Team: Columbus Scotus Girls
Position: Forward/Attacking Midfield
Club Team: I used to play on the Columbus 2005 Calcio team which stands for kick in Italian, and I used to guest play on the Papillion Mystics Club team but I am not currently playing on a club team.
Grade: Sophomore.
What is your favorite subject in school? Why? 
I love science because it gives me a chance to better understand how everything “came to be.”
What are your future plans?
I want to attend a four year college and either major in business or pre-nursing. Those are two very different majors but I can see myself both running a bakery and helping in the medical field as a nurse anesthetist. 
Who’s your favorite soccer player and why? 
Growing up I loved to watch Carli Lloyd because I admired her goal scoring ability and I wanted to grow up to be just like her when I got older.
Who has helped you become the player that you are today? How did they help you? Is there anything you would like to tell them? 
My parents have influenced my love of soccer since I was practically born. They would take me to all their soccer practices and teach me how to do their moves so that I could learn from a young age of how the sport works. Now that I am at the age of the girls I grew up looking up to, it gives me a thought of ‘Wow. You have dreamed of these moments since you were little, now give it all you got.’ I want to say an immense thank you to them because I could not be where I am as a soccer player and as a person if I did not have such great people raising me.
Could you see yourself coaching soccer someday? Is that a path that you are interested in following? If so, why?
I want to be an assistant coach one day because I want to help other girls love the sport as much as I do and have fun and be successful while doing so. I want to follow in the footsteps of my parents and be able to have as much success as they have had in their years of coaching.

Thank you for reading and being a part of our new community. A like, share, comment, or recommendation of content would be greatly appreciated. In order to financially support our efforts, sponsorship/partnership opportunities have become available. Sponsors will receive vast exposure to the Nebraska soccer community through different media avenues. The sponsorship process is easy and reasonable.

Contact us on our website or email @ nebraskasoccertalk@gmail.com.

Connect with us on TwitterInstagram, or listen to our podcast.

 

Senior Send-Off (Class A Boys)

Before you start scrolling the list, please read the opening carefully.

First, not every senior is on this list.  There are several reasons behind this.  Some players I couldn’t find stats, accolades, or information on, but all of these seniors on this list are here because someone (the player themselves, their parents, their coaches, a teammate, and we even had another player’s parent reach out to make sure someone was included).  We did not leave anyone off on purpose.

The second piece, there may be some slight inaccuracies or missing information in this article.  I got my information from many different sources, including some sources that are not always correct (namely social media and MaxPreps statistics).  On top of that, no matter how hard I tried to log in and pay for a Lincoln Journal Star account (to access their postseason awards), their website wouldn’t accept any of my credit cards.  Local newspapers shouldn’t complain about their readership when they don’t have a functioning and easy website for readers to pay for access, but I digress.

Lastly, Chace and I enjoyed covering high school soccer immensely this season and we can’t wait to do an even better job next Spring.  We have been blessed to receive a little support from coaches and parents over the past two weeks, and we will thank them when the time is right, but we can also use more support.  We will be coming out with a Patreon account this summer, but if you would like to get the ball rolling on your support now you can visit our Nebraska Soccer Talk Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nebraska_talk.  

Any individuals that support us now, will be instantly included in the Patreon supporters group when we get it started and will receive benefits in line with their support!

Class A Boys – Senior Send-Off

Jayden Kreis – Goalkeeper, Papillion La Vista – Kreis was a 2-year starter for the Papillion La Vista Monarchs.  In that time, he compiled a 20-14 record with 10 shutouts.  Kreis is committed to Buena Vista University Soccer, a Division III school in Storm Lake, Iowa.  Omaha World Herald Class Honorable Mention.

Efren Flores – Goalkeeper, Millard South – The Patriots rode Cooney Magic and a solid goalkeeper (and captain) in Efren Flores to their first state tournament berth in many years.  Flores’ performances earned him a nod on the OWH Class A Second Team nod and a LJS Class A Honorable Mention. Flores is committed to Concordia (NE) University to continue his education and soccer career.

Alexander Arriola – Midfielder, Bellevue East – Arriola was captain of the Bellevue East Soccer and plays club soccer for Gretna Elite Academy.  Per his Twitter, Arriola has committed to continuing his career at Upper Iowa University Soccer, a Division II school in Fayette, Iowa.

Cole Lammel – Defender, Millard South – Lammel was a three-year member of the Millard South Patriots Varsity.  The Millard South squad made the 2021 State Tournament this year.  Lammel was named to the LJS Super State First Team and the Class A All State team.  Also named to the OWH First Team All Nebraska, First Team Class A, and First Team All-Metro.  Per his Twitter, Lammel will be joining Northwest Missouri State Football as a kicker/punter, Northwest Missouri State is a Division II powerhouse located in Maryville, Missouri.

 Nick Sells – Defender, Papillion La Vista – Sells appeared in the 35 matches in his career for the Papillion La Vista Monarchs.  He was a Class A Honorable Mention by the LJS and OWH.  He is continuing his soccer career at Carroll University, a Division III school in Waukesha, WI.

Patrick Long – Forward, Gretna – Long notched 7 goals and 2 assists (in 8 games) for Gretna High School en route to State Championship berth and a semifinal finish.  Goal of the season candidate against Bryan in District Finals.  Long is continuing his soccer career at Midland University.  Long earned Class A Honorable Mention honors from Omaha World Herald.  Long also picked up MVP honors from the SONE Senior Soccer Showcase.

Sam Sundstrom – Defender, Elkhorn South – Appeared in all 15 games for the Storm in the 2021 season, earned Class A Honorable Mention from LJS and second team all-metro from OWH.

Haider Al-Barakat – Forward, Lincoln East – Earned Class A Honorable Mention from LJS, Class A second team from OWH, and named to the 2020 Nebraska U18 Boys Best XI during the 2020 Nebraska State Cup.  Barakat notches 13 goals and 5 assists for the Lincoln East Spartans in the 2021 season.

Jacob Miller – Midfielder, Lincoln Southeast – Earned Class A Honorable Mention from LJS and OWH.  Notched 2 goals and 1 assist this season.  Helped lead Knights to 2021 Class A State Tournament.

Caden Linsea – Midfielder, Gretna – Linsea just committed his future to Nebraska Wesleyan University.  He was a member of a Gretna team that finished its season in the State Tournament Semi-Finals.  Caden plays his club soccer for Gretna Elite Academy.

Eli Rhodes – Midfielder, Lincoln Southwest – Rhodes, the scorer of one of the most dramatic goals in recent State Championship history, was named to the LJS Super State team, OWH All Nebraska First team, and Class A All-State team.  Eli finished high school with a 3.9 GPA, and finished this season with 15 goals and 16 assists.  Rhodes is headed to Dakota Wesleyan where he will continue his academic and soccer careers.

Cedar Moyer – Forward, Gretna – Moyer shared the points lead for Gretna, but led the Dragons in assists this year.  He helped the Dragons reach the State Tournament Semifinals, and his consistent performers put him in the LJS Super State Second Team, OWH All Nebraska Second Team, OWH All-Metro team as well as the Class A All-State Team.  Moyer has committed to continuing his education and his soccer career at NJCAA powerhouse, Iowa Western Community College.

Damien Tran – Midfielder, Lincoln Southeast – Tran earned Class A Honorable Mention from LJS and OWH, notching 1 goal and 1 assist and helping lead Lincoln Southeast to the 2021 State Tournament.  Tran plans to attend the University of Nebraska and study Pre-Medicine.

Emanuel “Wawa” Palga – Midfielder, Omaha South – One of the most interesting final games of a high school player’s career did not stop Wawa Palga from earning his proper place in the LJS Super State First Team and the Class A All State Team.  Palga also earned the prestigious award of captain of OWH All Nebraska First Team, and was named to the Class A and Metro first teams.  Wawa was one of the most entertaining players to watch in Nebraska Boys Soccer this year, stacking up 11 goals and 5 assists while dazzling fans with his skill and speed on the ball.  He is awaiting a D1 offer to play college soccer at the next level.

Kevin Becerril – Forward, Omaha South – Kevin Becerril led the front-line for the State Champion and nationally ranked Omaha South Packers.  Becerril combined consistent finishing skill with solid hold-up play to finish top in the state in goals, and second in the state in points.  Becerril’s performances netted him a spot on the LJS Super State First team, OWH All Nebraska 1st team, OWH First team all-Metro, as well as the Class A All State team.

Luis Garcia – Midfielder, Omaha South – Luis Garcia was a consistent performer for the State Champion Packers.  While he didn’t necessarily stack up the state-wide accolades (apart from his Class A Honorable Mention and Second Team All-Metro), he played an important midfield role for Omaha South.  He had 4 player of the game performances for Omaha South this season.

David Rojas – Midfielder, Omaha South – Rojas was my player to watch for the Packers before the State Championship game, and he ended up scoring a goal.  Rojas was an unsung player for the Packers for most of the season, but he had clutch moments when it mattered including earlier in the season versus Creighton Prep.  Rojas was a Class A Honorable Mention.

Ian Krenzer – Goalkeeper, Creighton Prep – Krenzer captained the Junior Jays to a 2021 State Semifinal appearance, and earned a spot as a LJS and OWH Class A Honorable Mention.  4.1 GPA, and missed only a couple games due to injury.  Krenzer plays club soccer for NFC, and plans to continue his education at University of Nebraska Lincoln for business.

Tristan Rainey – Defender, Omaha Northwest – LJS and OWH Class A All-State Honorable Mention.

Peyton Hylok – Defender, Papillion La Vista South – Hylok made his mark this season as a LJS and OWH Class A Honorable Mention and Co-Captain of Papillion La Vista South Boys Soccer.  Hylok is heading to the Kansas City area to continue his education and soccer career at Johnson County Community College.

Collin Manzano – Forward, North Platte – Manzano, the Southeast Community College soccer commit, scored 3 goals and dished out 6 assists for the North Platte Bulldogs.

Ian Becerra – Midfielder, Lincoln High – Becerra was a Class A All-State Selection by the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald.  This Spring, Becerra scored 9 goals and notched 5 assists.  Becerra is continuing his education and soccer career at Santa Rosa Junior College in California.  Along with being a stand out 4 year soccer player, Ian was also a four year letterwinner in Cross Country.  

Chance Hergott – Defender, Papillion La Vista South – Chance Hergott made the most of his senior season earning Academic All-State, as well as LJS and OWH All State Honorable Mention honors.  The athletic and talented left back is heading to Truman State University where he will study in business and compete for their soccer team.

Caden Tubaugh – Forward, Millard West – Tubaugh had a solid sophomore season, earning OWH Class A All State Honorable Mention, but his 2020-2021 year will be one for the books.  In 2020, Tubaugh won a State Cup with Gretna Elite Academy and committed his future to nationally-ranked NCAA Division II Maryville University.  This Spring, The 6’1” Tubaugh tallied 11 goals and 12 assists and played nearly every minute of every match, leading Millard West to a State Tournament appearance (where he netted against champions Omaha South in a losing effort).  He picked up postseason awards galore, including but not limited to LJS Super State, LJS Class A All State, OWH All Nebraska First team, OWH All-Metro first team, and Millard West Boys MVP.

Arturo Castro – Forward, Norfolk – LJS Class A All-State Honorable Mention.  Castro tallied 5 goals and 3 assists this season for the Panthers.

Jeff Sumaili – Midfielder, Omaha Burke – Sumaili netted 5 goals and 7 assists for the Burke Bulldogs, en route to LJS and OWH Class A All-State Honorable Mentions.

Ryan Brakke – Midfielder, Creighton Prep – Ryan Brakke, an LJS First Team Super State, OWH Class A First Team, OWH All Nebraska Second Team, and OWH All-Metro selection, helped lead the Junior Jays to a semifinal appearance in this spring’s state tournament.  Cited by his coach as both a tremendous leader and player, Brakke is staying in town and graduating from Junior Jay to Blue Jay.  The midfield standout has committed his future to the Creighton University soccer team.  Brakke plays club soccer for Sporting Omaha FC.

Soe She – Forward, Lincoln High – Soe is a young player who has persevered through some great adversity.  A Karen refugee, who lost his father at a young age, Soe She will be the first of his family to attend college when he attends Southeast Community College this Fall.  He plans to pursue a degree in electromechanical engineering.  Soe She is a talented soccer player, kind-hearted person, and always has a great attitude despite the challenges he has had to face.  We want to thank Janet Scott for sharing Soe’s story with us.

Anthony Acosta – Midfield, Grand Island – The midfielder from Grand Island helped lead his team to a State Tournament berth.  Next year, Acosta will continue his education and his soccer career at Dakota Wesleyan.  OWH Class A All State Honorable Mention

Caiden Lawn – Defender, Kearney – Defender Caiden Lawn was one of the veterans of a young Kearney Bearcat team.  Lawn was named LJS and OWH Class A All State Honorable Mention and earned Academic All-State Honors.  

Alex Eby – Defender, Papillion La Vista South – Eby was a 2021 OWH All-Nebraska, Class A, and all-Metro Second Team selection as well as being a LJS Class A All State Honorable Mention.

Cole Hoppe – Defender, Bellevue West –  Cole Hoppe was named all-state honorable mention as both a Sophomore and a Senior.  He was also named captain before the COVID-cancelled junior year and maintained that role for Bellevue West as a senior.  Hope is an incredible student, earning Academic All-State as a senior, a #1 Class Rank at Bellevue West, and a spot in the Bellevue West 30+ ACT Club.  He served as a DECA officer his junior and senior years.  Hoppe has committed to William Jewell College, where he will continue his soccer career and his education.  He plans to study Data Science and Statistics.

Martin Fuentes – Midfielder/Forward, Bellevue West – Fuentes was a 2021 LJS Class A All State Honorable Mention and a OWH All-Metro Second Team award winner.

Diego Salas – Forward, Grand Island – Salas, a LJS and OWH All State Honorable Mention, tallied 10 goals and 12 assists this season.  He helped the Islanders to a berth in the 2021 State Tournament. Salas is continuing his academic and soccer career at Southeast Community College.

Nolan Fuelberth – Goalkeeper, Lincoln Southwest – 2021 Super State Selection by LJS and All Nebraska First Team Selection by OWH, Fuelberth made 72 saves and only allowed 7 goals.  Nolan took Southwest to the brink of a State Championship game.  A goalkeeper with many strengths, Fuelberth is committed to Division I Northern Illinois.  Fuelberth was Nebraska Soccer Talk’s Class A Boys Player of the Year as well as the LJS player of the year and is one of the best players (if not the best) in the entire state.

Braden Lackey – Forward, Lincoln Southwest – Despite being surprisingly denied a spot on LJS’ Super State and OWH First teams, Lackey is one of the best goalscorers in the state earning all-state, all conference, and LSW golden boot honors.  Lackey also named to the OWH All-Nebraska second team.  The leading goal-scorer for Class A runner-ups Lincoln Southwest and the 3rd leading goalscorer in Class A, Lackey also showed he could be a provider, tallying 9 assists.  Lackey’s combination of size and skill caused problems for every defensive unit that had to deal with him.  Lackey completed a decorated youth and prep career where he succeeded at the high school, club, and ODP levels.  He was a constant presence on the Nebraska ODP squad.  He plays his club soccer for Gretna Elite Academy, where he was a part of the 2020 State Cup winning team and will travel to the Midwest Regional Championships this year.  Braden is heading to Doane University next Fall, where he will continue his soccer career and his education.

Carter Hinman – Forward, Gretna – Carter Hinman had himself a senior year, with a great memory that it was probably his goal that led to the fence-breaking celebrations in Gretna’s district final.  He notched 14 goals and 4 assists, as he helped Gretna to a semifinal finish in this year’s State Tournament.  His personal and team success was rewarded with a spot on the LJS Super State Second Team, OWH All Nebraska First Team, OWH All-Metro first team, as well as the Class A Boys All-State Team.  Carter is headed to Concordia (NE) University to continue his education and his soccer career.

Carter Novosad – Forward, Lincoln Southwest – Novosad, the 5’11” senior, was a part of the Class A Runners-up Lincoln Southwest.  Novosad, who netted 5 goals and 3 assists this season, is committed to continuing his education and his college soccer career at Drury University.

Johnny Le – Midfielder/Defender, Lincoln Southwest – Le was a part of the Class A Runners-up Lincoln Southwest.  He was a big contributor to what made the Lincoln side so difficult to score on all season.  Le is committed to continuing his education and soccer career at Drury University.

Clayton Monroe – Goalkeeper, Lincoln Southwest – In case you were wondering how loaded Lincoln Southwest was at goalkeeper, Monroe was the backup behind Division I commit Nolan Fuelberth.  Monroe, a Rockhurst University commitment himself, played his club soccer for Capital Soccer Association out of Lincoln.

Spencer Kaufman – Westside – The Westside Warrior and Sporting Omaha player is committed to continuing his education and soccer career at Concordia (NE) University.

Braeden Bestmann – Defender, Lincoln Southwest – Bestmann was a consistent and talented defensive presence for the Class A Runners Up, and he has been rewarded handsomely for his efforts.  The Lincoln Southwest captain was named LJS First Team Super State, LJS First Team Class A, OWH All Nebraska Second Team, and OWH Class A First Team.  Bestmann was also named Academic All-State.

Brage Sather-Larsen – Forward, Omaha Bryan – Sather-Larsen scored lots of goals and picked up lots of awards this year.  The 15-goal scorer was named to the OWH Class A Second Team, OWH All-Metro First Team, OWH All-Nebraska Second Team, LJS Super State Second Team, and LJS Class A All-State.  A fantastic season for the Bryan striker.

Payton King – Forward, Grand Island Northwest – King scored 5 goals and dished 2 assists this Spring.  Helped GINW to a state tournament berth, named 2nd team all-conference in the Central Conference. King participated in the CCC and SONE showcases and is currently contemplating an offer from Mount Marty University Men’s Soccer to continue his soccer and academic careers.

 

Chace and I enjoyed covering high school soccer immensely this season and we can’t wait to do an even better job next Spring.  We have been blessed to receive a little support from coaches and parents over the past two weeks, and we will thank them when the time is right, but we can also use more support.  We will be coming out with a Patreon account this summer, but if you would like to get the ball rolling on your support now you can visit our Nebraska Soccer Talk Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nebraska_talk

 

 

Class B Championship Previews

Class B Boys – Omaha Skutt vs. Lexington – Wednesday, May 19th @ 8:00 PM

Omaha Skutt Catholic – #1 Seed (20-1)

Road To The Finals

  • Quarterfinals – Defeated Platteview 10-0
  • Semifinals – Defeated Bennington 3-1

Key Players

  • #0 Zach Weis – Senior goalkeeper that has allowed just three goals in 21 appearances. The Nebraska Wesleyan commit is a leader in the net and a major impacter on the game. Weis has excellent hands, quality distribution, and the confidence to play keeper at a high level.
  • #1 Andrew Davidson – Senior midfielder that controls the game from his central position. Davidson has accumulated 9 goals and 15 assists this season. He is a consistent threat that has scored or assisted in every game this season.
  • #4 Caleb Vos – Another Nebraska Wesleyan commit. Vos will be taking his impressive footwork, motor, and soccer IQ to the next level. He is exciting to watch as he runs the lanes on the side of the field. 10 goals and 11 assists on the season.
  • #10 John Meyers – Senior defender that has been a stable force on the backline. Meyers has partnered with his fellow defenders to allow only 3 goals this season.

Lexington – #2 Seed (20-1)

Road To The Finals

  • Quarterfinals – Defeated South Sioux City 2-0
  • Semifinals – Defeated Mount Michael Benedictine 1-0

Key Players

  • #9 Yoskar Galvan – Senior midfielder that committed to Iowa Western earlier this season. Galvan is a special kind of talent that can do it all with this pace and on-ball skill. Yoskar has 17 goals and 21 assists this season. He will have to be a major factor in this match in order to defeat Skutt.
  • #10 Junior Casillias – Senior midfielder that is also an Iowa Western soccer commit. Casillias has been on our radar all season long. This is a player capable of changing the game at a moment’s notice. Junior is best when on the ball with an attacking mentality.

NEST Analysis: This game will feature two of the best possession teams that the state has to offer. Expect Skutt to come out fast in an attempt to speed up the pace of play. That has been their style all season long, it won’t change now. The Skyhawks are adept at pressing their opponents into a panic and making the most of the counterattacks. This team loves the over-the-top switch to their talented wingers. Lexington’s attack will determine the outcome of this game, they must find a way to score multiple goals against a team that has only allowed three all season. The Minutemen are capable of doing this with their confidence and flair. Lexington has and will continue to place an emphasis on its midfield play. Casillias and Galvan are given a lot of positional freedom within this scheme. The Lexington defense will presumably play with a deep-dropping sweeper type of center-back. That wrinkle that mystified opponents all season long.

Prediction: Lexington has a ton of talent and it’s great to see a Central Nebraska team on this stage. However, Omaha Skutt has been absolutely dominant all season. This one ends with a Skyhawk title. 3-1 Omaha Skutt

 

Class B Girls – Omaha Skutt vs. Norris – Wednesday, May 19th @ 5:00 PM

Omaha Skutt – #1 Seed (19-1)

Road To The Finals

  • Quarterfinals – Defeated Omaha Roncalli Catholic 7-1
  • Semifinals – Defeated Lincoln Lutheran/Raymond Central 7-1

Key Players

  • #6 Cady Bettsworth – Senior midfielder that is a do it all type of athlete. A determined presence in the midfield, Bettsworth will need to be a factor in this game. A stat line of 11 goals and 13 assists this season.
  • #15 Kaeylyn Reeves – The senior forward is a Wayne State soccer commit. Safe to say, the Wildcats are getting a difference maker in the attack. 12 goals and 6 assists on the season, she will be looking to add a few more in the championship match.
  • #19 Jenna Hotovy – Senior defender that is committed to play at South Dakota State. The Skyhawks have allowed 4 goals in all competitions, a lot of that credit has to go to Hotovy.
  • #20 Cece Behrens – Senior forward that has been the Class B girls player of the year. Although there will be a ton of talent in this championship, Behrens will be the best amongst them. The future Omaha Maverick has 39 goals and 11 assists.

Norris – #2 Seed (20-0) 

Road To The Finals

  • Quarterfinals – Defeated Lexington 2-0
  • Semifinals – Defeated Omaha Duchesne 4-2

Key Players

  • #1 Kennedy Sullivan – A lot of worthy names on this squad, but time to pay attention to this FRESHMAN midfielder. Norris is here to stay due to their young core of talent. Sullivan has 12 goals and 12 assists on the season. She has risen to the occasion versus top teams.
  • #3 Reese Borer – The sophomore midfielder has been an impact player all season long. She is a major part of the talented crop of players that have taken Norris to new heights. She will be a top player for years to come in the state of Nebraska. 17 goals with 5 assists this season.
  • #5 Molly Ramsey – The senior three-sport star is an exciting athlete and overall story. She is the leader of this team as she brings a winner’s mentality to the field. Ramsey is a speedy forward that understands how to find the back of the net. Her 2021 stat line reads 19 goals and 6 assists.
  • #10 Hanna Schroeder – Another senior attacker that has done her part in building this program. Schroeder has been impressive all year long with 14 goals and 8 assists.

NEST Analysis: The storyline for this match practically writes itself. A traditional powerhouse filled with division one talent seeks to add another trophy to the case. On the other side, the up-and-coming Norris Titans attempt to add an exclamation point to a dream season. This is a game that will potentially have a flurry of goals and fast-paced play. Cece Behrens and Molly Ramsey will star for their individual teams, which one will have the golden foot?

I expect Skutt to establish early momentum while Norris adjusts to this level of opposition. Norris will compete hard and it is essential for them to stay disciplined defensively.

Prediction: This one is going to be a great show to watch, and I am excited to see it all play out. The final scoreline will not represent the reality on the field. Omaha Skutt will be too consistent and take advantage of their chances late in the game. 4-2 Omaha Skutt.

 

Thank you for reading and being a part of our new community. A like, share, comment or recommendation of content would be greatly appreciated. In order to financially support our efforts, sponsorship/partnership opportunities have become available. Sponsors will receive vast exposure to the Nebraska soccer community through different media avenues. The sponsorship process is easy and reasonable.

Contact us on our website or email @ nebraskasoccertalk@gmail.com.

Connect with us on TwitterInstagram, or listen to our podcast.