The high school soccer season begins Thursday. Here’s a closer look at what to expect from the 10 city girls teams.
Lincoln East
Coach: Emily Mathews (fifth year).
2023: 15-3 (state semifinalist).
Outlook: East is coming off a memorable season when it was part of the all-Lincoln state semifinals match won by Lincoln Southwest in overtime. The Spartans will have several new players after having 12 seniors on its roster last season.
Lincoln High
Coach: Shelly Fargo (seventh year).
Outlook: Lincoln High had a strong finish to last season, winning four of its last six matches.
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Lincoln Lutheran/Raymond Central
Coach: Micky Sloup (first year).
2023: 6-7 (district finalist).
Outlook: Sloup, a second-year Spanish teacher at Lincoln Lutheran, replaced longtime coach Dave Gosselin.
North Star
Coach: Edward Meitzen (fifth year).
Outlook: North Star has continued to take small steps forward as a program.
Northeast
Coach: Jose Hidalgo (sixth year).
Outlook: Northeast improved its win total by two from the previous season.
Northwest
Coach: Cody Thatcher (second year).
Outlook: With just 17 players in the program last year during its first season, Northwest should keep improving this season.
Lincoln Pius X
Coach: Steve Andersen (10th year).
2023: 11-5 (district finalist).
Outlook: Pius X came up just short of state last year with a shootout loss in the district final. Kate Vacek, Nora Stewart, Grace Diederich and Emily Krings are some of the top players for the Thunderbolts.
Standing Bear
Outlook: The first-year school won’t compete at the varsity level this season. Rice was previously an assistant coach at Lincoln Southeast.
Southeast
Coach: Liz Sundberg-Kremer (fourth year).
2023: 9-7 (district finalist).
Outlook: Southeast is a much more veteran team this season, led by seniors Sam Searcey and Mirabelle Hesse. The Knights also have Laly Martineau, an exchange student from France who has elite speed and could score a lot of goals.
Southwest
Coach: Thomas Nettleton (11th year).
2023: 16-3 (state runner-up).
Outlook: Southwest has a solid group back from its state runner-up team, led by Omaha signee Charley Kort. Three-sport standout Kennadi Williams is also planning to play later in the season after she recovers from an injury suffered during the basketball season.
Photos: Class A state soccer moves into semifinal round
Lincoln Southwest celebrates after defeating Lincoln East in a Class A semifinal match to advance to the championship at Morrison Stadium on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Lincoln Southwest celebrates after defeating Lincoln East in a Class A state semifinal on Friday in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Charley Kort (left) high-fives teammates after scoring a go-ahead goal in overtime of a Class A state semifinal against Lincoln East on Friday in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Molly Riggins (7) and Lincoln East’s Keely Yager (17) fight for a loose ball during a Class A semifinal match at Morrison Stadium on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Lincoln East’s Keely Yager (17) shares a smile in front of the East bench during a Class A semifinal match against Lincoln Southwest at Morrison Stadium on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Lincoln East’s MaKynlie Cade (20) chases the ball with Lincoln Southwest’s Izzie Kiser (left) during a Class A state semifinal on Friday in Omaha.
Lincoln East’s MaKynlie Cade (right) falls while going for the ball against Lincoln Southwest’s Maya Stevenson (17) during a Class A state semifinal Friday in Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Ashley Bredthauer (10) makes a pass against Lincoln Southwest during a Class A semifinal match at Morrison Stadium on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Lincoln East’s Page Monson (11) takes a long-rage shot against Lincoln Southwest’s Charley Kort (21) during a Class A semifinal match at Morrison Stadium on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Gretna’s Allison Marshall (34) reacts to a referee’s call against Omaha Westside during a Class A semifinal match at Morrison Stadium on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Gretna’s Ava Makovicka (right) embraces Kendall Dobberstein (28) after scoring a goal against Omaha Westside during a Class A semifinal match at Morrison Stadium on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Gretna’s Allison Marshall (34) flips a ball up in the air against Omaha Westside’s Rebecca Nilius (22) during a Class A semifinal match at Morrison Stadium on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Gretna’s Allison Marshall (34) races ahead as the ball bounces over her head against Omaha Westside during a Class A semifinal match at Morrison Stadium on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Lincoln Southwest’s Landon Holmberg (5) takes a shot on goal against Creighton Prep during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Landon Holmberg (5) takes a shot on goal against Creighton Prep during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Mabast Alawdi (11) fights through contact against Creighton Prep’s Drayton Beber (left) during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Henry Spethman (right) collects himself after a Creighton Prep goal during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest fans react after a penalty was called against the Silver Hawks during a Class A state semifinal match against Creighton Prep on Friday in Omaha.
A Lincoln Southwest fan reacts after a penalty was called against the Silver Hawks during a Class A state semifinal match against Creighton Prep on Friday in Omaha.
A Lincoln Southwest fan yells after a penalty was called against the Silver Hawks during a Class A state semifinal match against Creighton Prep on Friday in Omaha.
Creighton Prep’s Thomas Pisasale (middle) is celebrated by Brenden Zuerlein (left) and Max Matthies (right) after scoring a goal against Lincoln Southwest during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Creighton Prep’s Max Matthies (right) embraces Thomas Pisasale (3) after Pisasale scored against Lincoln Southwest during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Creighton Prep’s Thomas Pisasale (3) hits a back flip while being cheered on by Max Matthies (7) and Jack Johnson (11) after scoring the go-ahead goal against Lincoln Southwest during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Lane Kruse (10) and Creighton Prep’s Thomas Pisasale (middle) leap into the air for a header during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Creighton Prep’s Owen Glogowski (6) fends off Lincoln Southwest’s Landon Holmberg (5) during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Caedmon Schwanke (22) dribbles the ball while being chased by Creighton Prep’s Zamere Issaka (14) during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Photos: Two girls soccer teams are crowned state champions
Lincoln Southwest’s Mallory Arehart (left) embraces teammate Katrina Avila as the team is being presented with runner-up medals after losing to Gretna during the Class A girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Maya Stevenson embraces goalie Alexa Gobel as the team is being presented with the runner-up medals after losing to Gretna during the Class A girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Charley Kort (left) tries to control the ball next to Gretna’s Ava Makovicka during the Class A girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s goalie Alexa Gobel picks up a save against Gretna during the Class A girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Gretna’s Ava Makovicka (second from right) celebrates her goal against Lincoln Southwest during the Class A girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Norris’ Kennedy Sullivan attempts to score against Omaha Skutt during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Norris’ Paige Butterfield (left) battles for control of the ball against Omaha Skutt’s Josie Tobaben during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Norris’ Grace Kohler (left) wrestles for the ball next to Omaha Skutt’s Milayni Cain during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Gretna’s Sonora Defini looks as she scored against Lincoln Southwest’s goalie Alexa Gobel and mdfielder Izzie Kiser in the first half during the Class A girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Kiersten Runge (13) controls the ball against Gretna’s Allison Marshall (left) and Ava Makovicka during the Class A girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Charley Kort (second from center left) celebrates her goal against Gretna during the Class A girls state soccer tournament on May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Norris’ Ize Tiball embraces head coach Arnold Talero after losing to Omaha Skutt in the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Omaha Skutt players celebrate against Norris during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Norris’ Grace Kohler attempts a penalty kick against Omaha Skutt in overtime during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Norris’ Ize Tiball guard against Omaha Skutt’s Presley Douglas during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Norris’ Ize Tiball picks up a ball against Omaha Skutt during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Norris’ Grace Kohler reacts after losing the Class B girls state championship to Omaha Skutt in a penalty shootout Monday at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
