Perfection on line for Bolts

 No comments  
 E-mail Story
 Print Story
  Share

 digg it!
 Facebook
 del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit

Text Size: 

Tools Sponsor

By BRENT C. WAGNER / Lincoln Journal Star

Tonight, a chance at history awaits the Lincoln Pius X boys soccer team, as the Thunderbolts have a chance to become only the third Class B boys team to complete a perfect season.

For the third straight season, Pius X and Omaha Skutt meet in the championship match. When they played in the regular season, Pius X won 4-1.

Nobody is shocked the Thunderbolts got this far. Pius X has allowed only seven goals in 16 games. Along the way, the Thunderbolts beat Class B No. 2 Lincoln Lutheran three times, and also shut out Class A No. 9 Millard North.

[+]Enlarge

Pius' Dylan Stoll (2) and Lincoln Lutheran's Taylor Katt (24) battle for the ball during the Lincoln Pius X vs. Lincoln Lutheran Boys Class B Semifinal soccer match in Omaha. (Michael Paulsen)

Pius' Dylan Stoll (2) and Lincoln Lutheran's Taylor Katt (24) battle for the ball during the Lincoln Pius X vs. Lincoln Lutheran Boys Class B Semifinal soccer match in Omaha. (Michael Paulsen)

Pius X is being mentioned as one of the best Class B teams ever, and some believe the Thunderbolts could have fared well in the Class A tournament, as well.

Here is what some coaches are saying about the Thunderbolts:

“They don’t have a weakness. We just couldn’t find a weakness. The only thing we could do is try to catch their wings not getting back defensively, but we couldn’t counter attack.”

— York coach Rich Saxer, whose team lost to Pius X 4-1 in the regular season, and 2-0 in the opening round of state.

“If they were competing in Class A, I think they would definitely hold their own against most teams. They probably don’t have the bench that some Class A teams do, but their first 11 guys and the first couple guys off the bench are pretty solid.”

“(Pius X keeper Cody Poteat) is an imposing kid, and their center back (Marcus Schademann) did two things that you always look for in a center back. First, is just really communicating. Second, he is just a competitive kid. Even late in the game I remember him getting on one of his teammates who took a long shot when they had a lead. It really helps to have a kid like that.”

“The other think I thought was impressive about Pius was their overall size. A lot of times in Class B the kids may be as skilled, but you won’t have the same number of just solid, thick kids that they had. It was impossible, really, to get behind them.”

“They’re a team that is not going to make mistakes, and I think as the game wears down, a lot of teams just beat themselves. I’d be surprised if they don’t want win state.”

—Millard North coach Bill Cunningham, whose Mustangs lost to Pius X 1-0 in the regular season.

“They probably don’t have the best set of forwards in the state, but they create a lot of chances, and score a lot out of the midfield.”

“Defensively, they don’t give you a lot of looks at the goal.”

— Ralston coach Scott Koel, whose team lost to Pius X 7-1 early in the season.