The Elkhorn North boys soccer program started its first year with three straight wins and a 13-1 goals advantage.
One trip to Krantz Field dashed that impressive streak, though.
The Blair Bears dominated the Wolves during the schools' first meeting Monday, earning their own 3-0 start — which grew to 4-0 Tuesday — with a 4-0 victory.
“I thought we did a really good job of communicating, which the other team didn't,” BHS junior Zyler Wyman said. “I thought that gave us the edge and helped us shut them out.”
Coach Curt Scott's team started fast with three first-half goals. First, Gabe Zurek pushed his season total to six before Kip Tupa scored on an assist by Victor Dufau. The French foreign exchange student's pass came during the 23rd minute.
Tyler Schroder then used his head to clean up a long Tupa throw-in and score a goal from inside the North box. BHS' 3-0 lead took just 25 minutes to accomplish.
“I think I just got pretty lucky there,” Schroder said. “I just threw myself in there and managed to get it.”
Twelve minutes into the second half, the Bears added an insurance goal on Dufau's free kick from about 30 yards. The midfielder said he doesn't know exactly how long his range is on such kicks, but he knows he was confident aiming for the back of the net on that score.
“I practiced a lot during training and I improved a lot,” Dufau said. “I was feeling great.”
Twenty-eight minutes later, the Blair celebrated a 4-0 win against a previously undefeated Eastern Midlands Conference opponent. Junior goalkeeper Mark Donner earned the cleaned sheet alongside defenders Ethan Smith, Shay Bailey, Wyatt Wiemer and Wyman, who was recognized in the postgame huddle by his coaches for having a standout game filling in out of position.
“I was just trying to do my part for the team,” Wyman said, going on to compliment his keeper.
“I think Mark did great,” he said. “For his first year in soccer, he's insane.”
Bears rout Concordia 8-3
Blair traveled to Omaha Concordia on Tuesday, besting the 1-4 Mustangs 8-3.
The Bears broke a 3-3 second-half tie and ran away with the match. Zurek scored four times, while Tupa and Dufau scored two apiece.
BHS moved to 4-0 with the win.
