Jack here! When the high school soccer season kicks off, there’s no shortage of drama and excitement across the state each week. We know it can be a lot to keep track of, but that’s what we at NEST hope to help with.
Every Monday, I’ll be recapping three things that caught my eye from the weekend’s action. Is three bullet points enough to cover everything? Absolutely not. But we hope it gives you a snapshot of the biggest storylines and helps paint the picture of how this high school season is unfolding.
A Tale of Two Gretnas
Not long ago, the city of Gretna had just one high school and for a brief moment in time, that high school sat at the epicenter of Nebraska high school soccer. From 2021 to 2023, Gretna appeared in five state championship games across the boys and girls programs, winning four of them, including a three-peat on the girls side.
However, ahead of the 2024 season, Gretna split into two schools, Gretna and Gretna East, due to growing enrollment. While Gretna East’s girls continued their dominance, capturing two straight state titles after the split, both boys programs struggled to maintain that same level of success. Each team managed one state tournament appearance in the years following, but neither recorded a win.
Now it looks like both schools might be rising to promiennce again, at least based on early results.Each team opened the season 2–0 with impressive wins. Gretna East secured victories over Elkhorn and #3 Hastings, while Gretna defeated #7 Skutt and #4 Lexington.
While the season is still in its infancy, we are starting to hear hushed whispers that the Gretna programs might be back. One thing that’s for certain is this weeks derby match between the two teams on March 24th is going to be a must-watch match.
Cardiac Cats
Looking for the most entertaining team in the state this season? Look no further than the Kearney Bearcats boys soccer team.
The Bearcats are off to a 2–1 start this year, but it’s the way they’ve played that’s grabbed our attention. In their season opener against Grand Island in the Central Nebraska Clasico, a late equalizer from the Bearcats forced a 2–2 draw at the end of regulation. Two more dramatic goals in overtime pushed the score to 3–3 before Kearney ultimately prevailed in a penalty shootout.
That game seemed like enough excitement for one weekend and was enough to make your heart race. However, after a fairly mundane 4-0 result against Lincoln Standing Bear this past Saturday, the Bearcats made pulses race once again in a back-and-forth 2-3 thriller against #6 Papio-La Vista South. The game was decided in the final minute when Papio South’s Elias Hernandez struck a stunning late winner.
Despite the result, its clear the Bearcats are going to be an exciting team to watch this season and they will look to hopefully ride this excitement all the way to Morrison Stadium.
Come at the Queens, You Better Not Miss
There may have been some (myself possibly included) who harbored doubts that the Lincoln Southwest Silver Hawks girls soccer team could sustain the same level of play they have had the last two seasons after losing a bevy of players to DI college programs.
Through two games though, those doubts seem to be completely unfounded.
The Silver Hawks opened the season with a statement performance, scoring 13 first-half goals in a dominant win over Lincoln High. The result provided the biggest win of any team in the state during the opening week.
Their second game, against Class B #1 Lincoln Pius X, was expected to be a much tougher test. While the final score (a 3–1 win) was closer then their previous game, the match never truly felt in doubt, with Lincoln Southwest firmly in control from start to finish.
There are still challenges ahead, including a marquee matchup this Saturday against #2 Marian, but the Silver Hawks already look poised to defend their title and chase a historic third straight championship.