The Blair boys soccer team struggled down the stretch after a 7-0 start, but the Bears ended the regular season Tuesday with a home rout at Krantz Field.
The 5-1 win against Elkhorn was exactly what coach Curt Scott's 9-5 team needed with postseason play up next.
“It was a good, complete game, for sure,” BHS goalkeeper Mark Donner said. “Last week was pretty tough, and we needed this for some momentum going into next week.”
A long pass by Victor Dufau set up Gabe Zurek for the Bears' first goal during the fifth minute. The senior added a second score during the 22nd before Gonzalo Fernandez put his team ahead 3-1 in the 30th.
Elkhorn nearly pulled within a goal during the final seconds of the first half, but Donner nabbed a hot Antler shot out of the air to keep Blair's advantage at two.
“Honestly, I was in the right place, but sometimes it's just a little bit of luck,” the keeper said. “If that would have been anywhere else in the goal, they would have scored.”
But Donner was where he needed to be to get the job done.
“I just saw it off of his foot and went up and got it,” he said.
The 3-1 BHS lead held until Dufau added two goals during the final 2 minutes. The five goals were the Bears' most since they defeated Plattsmouth 10-0 on April 6 to improve to 7-0.
Now, BHS turns to subdistrict play, which is scheduled to begin Saturday. The Bears face Madison in South Sioux City at 1 p.m.
