This past Friday, the girls soccer team beat undefeated team Lincoln Southwest in the state semi-finals 1-0 in a shocking upset. Going into this game was without a doubt challenging, considering Southwest has some of, if not the best stats in the state. They had a 29 game winning streak, the top goal scorer for a single season, and the chance to have a three-peat in a championship game.

Not only did Elkhorn South score on a team that had only conceded 2 goals all season, they shut them out too. Around the 50th minute, Junior goalkeeper Kenzie Thompson punted the ball to her forwards. The Southwest keeper came out of her box to play the ball out, yet she was unable to settle the ball and Elkhorn South sophomore Ellie Sonderman immediately pressed the ball and blew right past the entire back line of defense, leaving an open goal.

The tap in shot not only pulled the Storm ahead, but it also left Lincoln Southwest trailing for the first time all season. The combination of that unfamiliar shock of being down, and Elkhorn South’s elite defense from their backline, the Elkhorn South girls kept their lead and ultimately punched their ticket to the state championship.

Their appearance in the championship match will not only make program history as the first occurrence in class A state soccer championship, but if they win it could also be the first class A state championship in the history of the school. With all this on the line there is immense pressure put on the girls, but it’s nothing they haven’t dealt with before. 

The results of the other semi-final game put Elkhorn South back up against Marian for the third time this season. With split wins in the past two games, it will definitely be a great matchup to see. Marian beat Elkhorn South the most recent time they played, but Bellevue West had also had decisive victories against Elkhorn South the first two times as well, and they were taken down by the Storm in the first round. This being said, anything is possible in the state tournament.

Will Elkhorn South have the chance to make history, or will Marian get redemption after their loss in the championship game last year? Only time will tell which one of these threats comes out on top.