Girls
TOP 10, W-L, Last week
1. Millard North, 17-3, 4
2. Omaha Marian, 18-3, 2
3. Elkhorn, 16-3, 10
4. Omaha Skutt, 16-3, 5
5. Elkhorn South, 17-3, 1
6. Lincoln Southwest, 16-2, 8
7. Gretna, 14-4, 3
8. Millard West, 11-6, 9
9. Omaha Westside, 12-4, 6
10. Lincoln Southeast, 15-2, 7
CLASS A
1. Millard North, 17-3, 2
2. Omaha Marian, 18-3, 1
3. Lincoln Southwest, 16-2, 4
4. Millard West, 11-6, 6
5. Omaha Westside, 12-4, 3
6. Lincoln Southeast, 15-2, 4
7. Papillion-La Vista, 11-5, 7
8. Papillion-La Vista South, 9-7, 8
9. Millard South, 12-6, 9
10. North Platte, 12-4, 10
Comments: Millard North took out two years of frustrations against Marian in the finals to win the crown. The Mustangs are loaded for the future, too. Freshmen and sophomores played major roles in the state title run, with only 13 of Millard North’s 74 goals this season coming by seniors. And then there’s keeper Sidney Anderson. The 6-foot-2 freshman finished with shutouts in seven of her last eight matches, including all three at the state tournament.
CLASS B
1. Elkhorn, 16-3, 4
2. Omaha Skutt, 16-3, 3
3. Elkhorn South, 17-3, 1
4. Gretna, 14-4, 2
5. Omaha Mercy, 12-7, 8
6. Columbus Scotus, 9-4, 5
7. Omaha Roncalli, 13-4, 8
8. Columbus, 11-4, 6
9. Hastings, 11-7, 9
10. Waverly, 13-4, 10
Comments: That wind you felt from downtown Monday night was the collective exhale of Class B coaches when Elkhorn forward Skylar Heinrich said publicly for the first time that she wouldn’t play her senior year for the Antlers. The junior finishes her high school career with 102 goals, the last two coming in Elkhorn’s 2-0 win over Skutt in the final. Each of the top four lose talented pieces of their rosters, but have a next wave waiting in the wings. Omaha Mercy brings back a significant portion of a team that beat Gretna 2-0 at state and reached the semifinals. The Monarchs are behind the Dragons, though, based on the total body of work.
Boys
TOP 10, W-L, Last week
1. Kearney, 18-2, 6
2. Omaha Westside, 18-2, 2
3. Omaha South, 19-2, 1
4. Lincoln Southwest, 16-2, 3
5. Creighton Prep, 16-4, 4
6. South Sioux City, 17-5, NR
7. Grand Island, 13-5, 5
8. Lincoln North Star, 12-7, 7
9. Elkhorn South, 14-7, 10
10. North Platte, 8-8, 8
CLASS A
1. Kearney, 18-2, 6
2. Omaha Westside, 18-2, 2
3. Omaha South, 19-2, 1
4. Lincoln Southwest, 16-2, 3
5. Omaha Creighton Prep, 16-4, 4
6. Grand Island, 13-5, 5
7. Lincoln North Star, 12-7, 7
8. North Platte, 11-5, 8
9. Lincoln East, 8-8, 9
10. Millard South, 12-6, 10
Comments: Kearney flipped the ratings on its head with a historic run. The Bearcats beat seven of the eight teams ranked behind them this season, going 8-1 against other teams in the final ratings and winning their last 11 matches. Don’t expect much of a dropoff as Kearney brings back key pieces — leading scorer Royce Austen and star keeper Jacob Hardy — next year. South, Southwest and Prep each will lose 10 or more seniors. Westside’s total may be lower (seven) but included 72 percent of the Warriors’ goals and its starting keeper.
CLASS B
1. South Sioux City, 17-5, 4
2. Elkhorn South, 14-7, 1
3. Omaha Skutt, 15-5, 2
4. Gretna, 15-4, 3
5. Elkhorn, 14-4, 5
6. Schuyler, 14-3, 6
7. Omaha Gross, 12-6, 7
8. Crete, 14-3, 8
9. Columbus, 9-6, 9
10. Lexington, 11-5, 10
Comments: South Sioux City did it with depth, defense and desire. The preseason No. 1 Cardinals return to the top after knocking off Elkhorn South in a rematch of last year’s finals. They won a state title without a double-digit goal scorer, but had shutouts in six of their last seven matches. All eight teams that made the state field looked capable of winning it. All but one of the seven matches was decided by one score or in overtime. Don’t expect that to change much next year. Lots of talent returns in the class next year.
