Schuyler youth soccer players earn state tickets for second consecutive year

The Schuyler boys soccer team accomplished its first goal of returning to Morrison Stadium after playing its best game of the season.

In Saturday's Class B-6 district final, the Warriors scored early and often trailed by five different scorers, defeating Hastings 6-0 and clinching their second straight state tournament berth and No. 13 overall. obtained.

“I'm really proud. We worked hard. We struggled at first, but they seemed to figure it out. The rhythm and our soccer,” said Skyler head coach Ulises Fuentes. “We put pressure on them. They were in the game. They were ready to play. We took every shot and scored it.”

Schuyler senior Jose Cruz led the Warriors with two goals. The senior's first goal came in the 22nd minute, when he chipped a shot past Hastings goalkeeper Brogan Files as he charged from the line.

Cruz scored his second goal in the 29th minute off a rebound after senior Ale Alarcón took a free kick that hit the post.

“It feels really good,” Cruz said. “That's been our goal since the beginning of the year. We're here just to compete at state again.”

Hastings almost scored the first goal in the third minute with a shot over the crossbar, but sophomore David Arciga scored in the fourth minute for his second straight district final.

The Warriors doubled their lead just four minutes later on a cross from freshman Boo Hernandez. The service into the box went through Alarcón, past Pfeil and into the bottom right corner.

After Cruz's two goals, Schuyler led 4-0 by the end of the half-hour mark.

“We did a lot of good things, especially in the beginning. We scored those three goals right away,” Pedro said. “We still caught up and scored three more goals, so it was really good. It shows how hard we've worked, whether we win or not.”

Schuyler extended its lead to 6-0 on goals from juniors Obed Benazo and Alarcon in the 65th and 74th minutes.

The Warriors' defense played its best football at the most important time of the year. Senior goaltender Luis Carrera made four saves to maintain the clean sheet.

On Saturday, Schuyler achieved his fifth clean sheet in six straight wins.

“Defensively, we did really well. I think we played the same way we did in the first game against Ralston,” Pedro said. “Our defense was really good, really compact, talking, looking over their shoulders, checking everywhere. We did that really well.”

Cruz, Pedro, Alarcon, Carrera, Davis Aldeano and Giovanni Martinez will finish their high school soccer careers at Morrison Stadium.

“Fourth year. I'm really happy that I passed,” Pedro said. “We put in a lot of effort and work on the field. We're just playing with our friends. It feels really great to be back in Omaha.”

Schuyler shouldered the pressure that comes with high expectations and earned his ticket to state for the second year in a row.

“Our expectations were pretty high,” Fuentes said. “I think at first that was why they struggled with high expectations. But I think they overcame it. They're a great team. They work together. They can shoot at goal.”

The Warriors earned the No. 6 seed and will face a familiar foe in No. 3 Bennington in the quarterfinals of the NSAA Class B State Soccer Championship.

Bennington defeated Schuyler 4-1 in the state semifinals last year. The Badgers enter Thursday's state quarterfinals as Class B's only undefeated team at 20-0.

“Our position is game by game. We have to win game by game,” Cruz said. “We had a very young group of players. It's been a long time since we've been to state. We just knew what the stadium was like now and just got used to it.”