Knights fall to Omaha Westside
OMAHA — Rebecca Crabb figured she’d try kicking a goal in for once.
Yeah, she’s aware she’s not exactly reinventing the game here.
Known most for her dramatic headers, Crabb kicked a ball in for the winning goal in Omaha Westside’s 1-0 victory against Lincoln Southeast in the Class A Girls State High School Soccer Tournament semifinals on Friday night at Morrison Stadium.
“I was just happy I scored with my foot,” said Crabb, who scored goals with her back, head and foot in an opening-round game.
With the win, fourth-ranked Westside earned a date with top-ranked Millard North in Monday’s championship game. Westside will have a chance to get the title that slipped away in a shootout in the title game last season. Millard North beat Westside 4-1 in their only meeting this season.
Westside jumped on the Knights in the 10th minute when Crabb scored unassisted with a shot just inside the box. The shot bounced in front of Southeast keeper Emily Dierks and deflected off her hands into the far corner of the net.
“She hit it and it was spinning, so I couldn’t tell if it went in or not,” Crabb said. “I felt like I was a long ways away, but I didn’t want to take too many touches and then miss it. So, I just ripped it because there were no defenders in front of me.“
That was the 23rd goal of the season for Crabb, who considered college soccer for a time but instead is headed to North Carolina on an academic scholarship.
Southeast regrouped and got off a couple of decent scoring chances late in the first half, but struggled to keep possession.
“It just seemed like we came out a little flat, and the kids were on their heels a little bit,” Southeast coach Duane Johnson said. “But Westside was winning those balls and got a few shots in front of our goal. One went in, and that was the game.“
The Warriors kept the heat on, getting three corner kicks in a 10-minute spurt in the second half.
Southeast again had its moments, including a shot in the final minute of the match that was inches away from going in, but could never finish.
Before the match, Westside coach Don Gilpin was worried about Southeast’s top scoring tandem of Abi Jurgens and Brieanna Everett, and gambled by having his best defenders cover those two on one-on-one. His plan worked.
“I know Bri was getting frustrated, but I didn’t want to put her back in the midfield,” Johnson said. “I think if she would have got the ball one-on-one she could have maybe got us a goal, (but) she had two or three kids around her.“
Westside also beat the Knights in a shootout earlier in the season. Southeast (14-4) had won seven straight, including the Knights’ first win at state in the past six tries.
“I’m proud of the season we had,” Johnson said.
Millard North 1, Millard West 0
Molly Thomas’ 33rd goal of the season was all top-ranked Millard North needed to get past No. 2 Millard West in a matchup between the past two state champions.
Thomas found the far corner of the net early in the second half. It was the NU recruit’s fourth goal of the tournament.
Millard North (17-1) also beat Millard West in the season opener.
Reach Brent C. Wagner at 474-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.
Yeah, she’s aware she’s not exactly reinventing the game here.
Known most for her dramatic headers, Crabb kicked a ball in for the winning goal in Omaha Westside’s 1-0 victory against Lincoln Southeast in the Class A Girls State High School Soccer Tournament semifinals on Friday night at Morrison Stadium.
“I was just happy I scored with my foot,” said Crabb, who scored goals with her back, head and foot in an opening-round game.
With the win, fourth-ranked Westside earned a date with top-ranked Millard North in Monday’s championship game. Westside will have a chance to get the title that slipped away in a shootout in the title game last season. Millard North beat Westside 4-1 in their only meeting this season.
Westside jumped on the Knights in the 10th minute when Crabb scored unassisted with a shot just inside the box. The shot bounced in front of Southeast keeper Emily Dierks and deflected off her hands into the far corner of the net.
“She hit it and it was spinning, so I couldn’t tell if it went in or not,” Crabb said. “I felt like I was a long ways away, but I didn’t want to take too many touches and then miss it. So, I just ripped it because there were no defenders in front of me.“
That was the 23rd goal of the season for Crabb, who considered college soccer for a time but instead is headed to North Carolina on an academic scholarship.
Southeast regrouped and got off a couple of decent scoring chances late in the first half, but struggled to keep possession.
“It just seemed like we came out a little flat, and the kids were on their heels a little bit,” Southeast coach Duane Johnson said. “But Westside was winning those balls and got a few shots in front of our goal. One went in, and that was the game.“
The Warriors kept the heat on, getting three corner kicks in a 10-minute spurt in the second half.
Southeast again had its moments, including a shot in the final minute of the match that was inches away from going in, but could never finish.
Before the match, Westside coach Don Gilpin was worried about Southeast’s top scoring tandem of Abi Jurgens and Brieanna Everett, and gambled by having his best defenders cover those two on one-on-one. His plan worked.
“I know Bri was getting frustrated, but I didn’t want to put her back in the midfield,” Johnson said. “I think if she would have got the ball one-on-one she could have maybe got us a goal, (but) she had two or three kids around her.“
Westside also beat the Knights in a shootout earlier in the season. Southeast (14-4) had won seven straight, including the Knights’ first win at state in the past six tries.
“I’m proud of the season we had,” Johnson said.
Millard North 1, Millard West 0
Molly Thomas’ 33rd goal of the season was all top-ranked Millard North needed to get past No. 2 Millard West in a matchup between the past two state champions.
Thomas found the far corner of the net early in the second half. It was the NU recruit’s fourth goal of the tournament.
Millard North (17-1) also beat Millard West in the season opener.
Reach Brent C. Wagner at 474-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.
Copyright © 2002-2008 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.