Gretna East bested the Blair High School girls soccer team Saturday, 5-1, ending the most-successful Bears season in more than two decades.
The Griffins advanced onto the NSAA Class B Championship finals with their win, while BHS ends the season 16-3 overall. The semifinals match was the last for seniors Brynn Ray, Blythe Knight, Maddie Kempcke, Izzy Hartvigsen and Addie Sullivan.
After 100 minutes of scoreless soccer against Omaha Skutt on Wednesday — a game coach Nick Hall’s team ultimately won by shootout — Gretna East scored two goals within the first 22 minutes of Saturday’s matchup. The Bears answered, though, scoring just before halftime when freshman Cadence Field passed the ball from the end line back up into front of the goal. Laynie Brown was open and scored the shot, pulling Blair with 2-1 of the unbeaten top seed of the state tournament.
After halftime, though, the Griffins scored three-straight times without an answer from the first BHS soccer squad to reach state since 2001. The Bears’ 16 wins this season were the most by a Blair girls team since that club won 17 24 years ago.
For full state coverage and additional photos, check out next Tuesday’s Washington County Pilot Tribune. Coverage will appear online at enterprisepub.com/sports that same day.
