Gretna High’s Hudson Hehn (right) and Gretna East’s Trey Pothoff (left) chase the ball during their match at East High School on April 5, 2025. (Photo/Fisher Madsen)
Two teams, one town, one day, one place.
For the first time ever, the Gretna High Dragons and the Gretna East Griffins boys and girls soccer squared off against each other in a double header.
Gretna East split off from Gretna High in the fall of 2023, giving these matchups a meaning unlike any other series in the state.
“We’re still really close-knit community,” East girls coach Chace Hutchinson said. “a lot of great memories over Gretna High, and we’re still at point where we know each other, and I know a lot of those girls who are on the team, so it’s a fun game.”
Hutchinson started coaching in 2022 for Gretna and won two state titles there before taking on the head coaching role at East. Hutchinson has lost one total game as a head coach. Meanwhile, the Gretna High girls are coached by Rachel Twist, who coached on Hutchinson’s Gretna staff.
The girls matchup came first with the top-ranked Griffins taking on the #9 Dragons. Former Dragon and future Oklahoma State Cowgirl Sonora De Fini scored four minutes in. De Fini started her career as a center back for Gretna in 2022 as a freshman. One minute later, Kendall Dobberstien, another former Dragon, found the net.
“They’re very capable scores,” Hutchinson said. “They’re drivers of our offense. I was, happy today with their composed finishes. when they got good chances, they were able to put in the corners and make the most of it.”
Three other Dragons from the 2022 side suited up for the Griffins, including standout goalie Maddie Schaffert and midfielders Karli Williams and Addie LaRock. These five won two state titles with Gretna, one with Gretna East last year, and are the favorites to capture another title this season.
Gretna High’s Briella Thompson (3) and Gretna East’s Gianna De Fini (28) chase the ball during their match at East High School on April 5, 2025. (Photo/Fisher Madsen)
De Fini finished the game with four goals and Dobberstien finished with three. Briella Thompson was the lone goal scorer for Gretna, making the final score 7-1.
After the girls game, the #10 East boys had their chance to face off against #8 Gretna High.
Gretna High won the Class A state title in 2022. The lone member of that team in this season’s match, Dallas Andrews, was wearing black and gold. East’s Ty Gilliand also played for the Dragons and played significant minutes in their 2023 runner-up campaign. Gretna coach Tyler Ortlieb said he wished that Andrews and Gilliand were still “in green and white,” but said it’s fun to coach against his former players.
“Everyone’s going to turn it into a cross-town rivalry,” Ortlieb said. “But the reality of it is I had some of these guys for two years, so there’s a lot of mutual respect.”
Gilliand also spoke very highly of his former team, saying he still has love for Ortlieb’s coaching staff.
“We always respect the other opponent, but there’s obviously a lot of extra emotions going against a team I used to play for,” Gilliand said.
Thirty-one minutes in, Brady Cerone scored the first goal of the game for Gretna High. East clawed their way back and found a goal off the foot of Trey Pothoff in the 75th minute, forcing overtime. In overtime, East goalie Kamden Korth earned a yellow card, forcing Gilliand, who started at center back, in goal. Gilliand, while only in goal for a few minutes, recorded a save on a corner kick.
“I saw the ball come across and thought ‘oh no,’” Gilliand said. “But I trusted my instincts and made the save.”
Gretna East’s Ty Gilliand (6) saves the ball during their match against Gretna High at East High School on April 5, 2025. (Photo/Fisher Madsen)
That save preserved the tie, which the Pothoff broke with five minutes left in overtime, earning his team the victory.
Gilliand said the win was really important coming off close losses to Lincoln Pius and Mt. Michael.
The Dragons record dropped to 2-3 and the Griffins improved to 3-3.
Fisher Madsen is a contributor for Nebraska Soccer Talk, currently studying Sports Media at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
