The 10th-ranked Blair High School girls soccer team faced a physical test Saturday against Omaha Westview at Krantz Field.
Coach Nick Hall's young Bears met the challenge, improving to 7-0 with a 7-0 victory.
“We really just held our own. Really battled back,” senior Brynn Ray said. “Really found the strength within us.”
BHS led from the seventh minute on, but still had to play through contact to get it done.
“We had to use our body a lot more than we usually have to,” sophomore Kaitlynn O'Neil said. “We had to play big and physical.”
The Bears also combated the rough play with quick passes and connections.
“They were physical, so we knew we had to pop the ball off and on so they couldn't get ahold of it,” Ray said.
Freshman Cadence Field scored the game's first goal before BHS goalkeeper Brooklyn Schroeter, a sophomore, stopped a Wolverine shot shortly thereafter. She'd finish with her sixth shutout of the season between the posts.
O'Neil scored a 10th-minute goal, too, before the Bears' home lead hit 3-0 on freshman Beau Wendt's goal in the 23rd. The advantage held until O'Neil cleaned up a loose ball in the box for a four-goal lead in the second half.
Defender Blythe Knight's long free kick during the 62nd minute found its way past the Westview keeper, too.
“I like taking those outside shots when I get the chance,” she said. “Practice makes perfect, so I'm pretty excited to get my first varsity goal.”
The senior didn't go into the freebie fully intending to tally her first goal after four years of varsity contributions, though.
“I was more hoping that someone was going to get a head on it at least,” Knight said. “But I'm glad mine went in.”
Field later notched her second goal of the match — and 18th of the still-young season — before Ray finished a penalty kick for the Bears' seventh of the home win.
“I thought we played a lot better toward the end,” O'Neil said. “We started connecting a lot more and taking more shots on goal.”
Blair's 7-0 start to the season has been filled with improvement, Ray added when asked about her team's progress. She credited her teammates' midfield play and possession work, but still would like to see the Bears improve its finishing ability at the net.
“But we've been finding opportunities within every single game,” the senior said. “So, lots of opportunities to come.”
Bears rout Grizzlies
Blair produced its third 10-goal game of the season Thursday, winning 10-0 at Lincoln Standing Bear.
Laynie Brown scored the Bears' first goal a minute in as the road squad led from the start, went ahead 8-0 before halftime and ended the match early by mercy rule. Field had three goals, while Brown, Claire Anderson, Ray and Brown scored two apiece. Aubrie McBreen scored her first goal of the season, too.
O'Neil and Field produced two assists apiece, too, while Anderson, Brown, Knight, Lindsey Moeller, Taytum Macholan and Ray each had one. Two days later against Westview, Field, Brown, Ray, O'Neil and Macholan added an assist apiece, too.
BHS SOCCER LINE SCORES
Saturday
No. 10 Blair 7, Omaha Westview 0
OW (2-5) 0 0 — 0
BHS (7-0) 3 4 — 7
Goals: Kaitlynn O'Neil 2, Cadence Field 2, Beau Wendt 1, Blythe Knight 1 and Brynn Ray 1. Winning goalkeeper: Brooklyn Schroeter.
Thursday
No. 10 Blair 10, Lincoln Standing Bear 0
BHS (6-0) 8 2 — 10
LSB (0-6) 0 0 — 0
Goals: Field 3, Claire Anderson 2, Ray 2, Laynie Brown 2 and Aubrie McBreen 1. Winning goalkeeper: Schroeter.
