The Crete boys’ soccer team made it through the important games, and now the Cardinals find themselves in the state tournament after defeating Omaha Roncalli Catholic 3-1 in a district final on May 4.
Crete jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first half after scoring two goals in the final 40 seconds of the half and held the Crimson Pride scoreless in the second half to punch its ticket to the state tournament.
“I am incredibly proud of this team,” Coach Derek Spence said. “What they have been able to accomplish this season is a credit to the leadership and focus of the players. I feel very good about being able to make some noise at the state tournament. We are getting to a place where we are finally getting healthy, a place we haven’t been in for about half the season- yet we continued to collect wins. Guys stepped up and we did what we needed to. I hope the community is proud of the team, because this team is proud to represent this community.”
Carlos Alvarez Flores scored two goals for the Cardinals and Osvin Garcia Velasquez scored one.
Before the district matchup, Crete defeated Norris 7-0 in the first round of the B-5 subdistrict and defeated Lincoln Northwest 4-0 in the championship.
Against Norris, Crete outscored the Titans 4-0 in the first half and 3-0 in the second half to put the game away early.
“I feel we really clicked tonight with having players step up and get goals,” Spence said.
Garcia Velasquez and Enzo Giron Padilla each scored two goals and Kenson Spence had five saves.
Against Lincoln Northwest, Crete led 1-0 at halftime but turned it on in the second half to outscore the Falcons 3-0 for the win.
Garcia Velasquez scored two goals again and Oscar Ortiz and Baltazar Adame Lopez each scored one.
Crete is the seventh seed at the state tournament and will face off against Omaha Skutt Catholic on Thursday, May 9, starting at noon at Creighton University’s Morrison Stadium.
