The state's top team ticked off an important checkmark on its to-do list for the second half of the season Monday night.
On Monday night, No. 1 Class A Lincoln Southwest scored a goal near the midway point of the second half and held on for a 1-0 win over No. 4 Gretna.
The Silver Hawks remain undefeated heading into Wednesday's final regular season game at No. 9 Papillion-La Vista South.
“We designed our schedule to field this type of team,” Southwest coach Derek Scheich said. “We want to test ourselves so we can say it's not a shock to play against a team of this level.”
When Gretna forward Maguire Perkins stepped up to the spot in the 25th minute after being brought down from behind in the box, it looked like his team might play from behind.
However, the Omaha rookie tried for a penalty in the bottom left corner, but Southwest keeper Dylan Beierman deflected it to keep it scoreless. It was Beierman's eighth shutout of the season and one of four games in the first half.
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“He was just a rock for us,” Scheich said. “This is his third year as a starter, and I don’t think there’s a better keeper in the state.”
The Silver Hawks scored the only goal of the game in the 52nd minute when forward Dean Perrin was helped by teammate Miguel Solano.
Solano played a through ball forward past a trio of defenders, and the ball drifted to the right where Perrin joined in the cleanup. His sixth goal of the season was the winning goal.
Scheich said he was “honest” with Perrin before Monday's game, urging him to step up with two starting pitchers missing.
“And he was there in the right place at the right time with energy,” Scheich said. “And he threaded his shoelaces through it.”
The second half was blessed with favorable winds, and Southwest University outscored the host team 8-3 after the break.
It was the Silver Hawks' 17th straight regular season win since losing in overtime to the same Gretna team a year ago.
Asked if the team was focused on a perfect regular season, Scheich said the 13-0 record includes one win against defending champion Omaha Creighton Prep earlier in the year and a win over Heartland. -He pointed out that they once made it through the Athletic Conference undefeated. record.
“And this is a game we've had circled on our calendar since last season,” Scheich said of Monday's win. “If we went undefeated in the regular season, that would be something to be proud of, but we have bigger goals in mind.”
Lincoln Southwest (13-0)….0 0—0
At Gretna (11-4)……0 1—1
In other boys soccer action Monday night, Gretna East defeated Bellevue East 3-0.
