Millard South wins first soccer title

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BY BRENT C. WAGNER / Lincoln Journal Star

OMAHA — The guys in yellow made Millard South keeper Daniel Whithorn change his jersey at halftime.

Apparently, the officials thought Whithorn looked too much like a Creighton Prep player.

“I was very disappointed,” Whithorn said.

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After the Patriots’ 3-2 victory over the Junior Jays in the Class A boys state soccer championship match, Whithorn was mostly over it.

“That’s alright,” Whithorn said. “It’s not the jersey, it’s what’s underneath it.”

Millard South showed plenty of what’s underneath a jersey after Prep pulled within a goal with three minutes to go in the match. The Patriots’ defense twice cleared potential game-tying goals in the final minute to wrap up a win before a crowd of about 2,400 at Morrison Stadium.

Before that, the Patriots’ Devon Strecker showed why he’s one of the best players in the state. His second goal of the match in the 71st minute was the game-winner.

Strecker scored five goals in the tournament.

“I don’t want to take anything away from our other players, but in big games Devon always plays big,” Millard South coach Jim Cooney said.

Freshman Jacob Novak scored the Patriots’ other goal.

During the state tournament, Millard South avenged regular-season losses to Omaha Westside and top-ranked Millard West. In its third trip to the state finals, Millard South (17-4) won its first state championship.

“I remember me and my friend taking this summer about how this could finally be the year for us,” Whithorn said, “and it finally came true.”

Reach Brent C. Wagner at 473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.