Published Wednesday

April 19, 2006

BY STU POSPISIL

WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

Top-ranked East's boys kept their undefeated season alive with a 5-2 thumping of Southeast in the first match of the doubleheader that drew an estimated 350. Brad Fullerton had his first two-goal match and Jake Rocke had a goal on a penalty kick and three assists.

Fullerton, a senior, hadn't played organized soccer since he was 12. He was in East's basketball and baseball programs as a freshman and sophomore and didn't go out for sports as a junior.

"Honestly," East boys coach Jeff Hoham said, "I don't know if Southeast knew who he was."

The No. 1 Spartans knew who Southeast sophomore Jordan Green was and where the No. 9 Knights' leading scorer (14 goals) was.

"He didn't show well tonight," Southeast boys coach Linda Wilson said, "but when he got the ball he had three defenders around him. We hadn't met a team that played as well as East did."

Lincoln East boys (9-0).........................3 2-5

Lincoln SE (8-2).........................1 1-2

Ä Goals: 1, LE, Alex Heyl (Jake Rocke). 2, LE, Rocke (penalty kick). 3, SE, Sean Norris. 4, LE, Brad Fullerton (Rocke). 5, LE, A.J. Dingledine (Rocke). 6, LE, Fullerton. 7, SE, Colton Nielsen.

BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star

Preceding the girls game, the No. 1-ranked East boys took care of Southeast 5-2 on the same field.

East senior Brad Fullerton turned out to be a major thorn to the Knights. Hereπs a guy who decided on a whim to play soccer this year. He hadnπt put on shin guards since he was 12.

All he did Tuesday was score two goals and notch an assist for the Spartans.

≥I told him (during tryouts), åI must be crazy, but Iπm gonna keep you,π≤ East coach Jeff Hoham said. ≥I donπt even know if Southeast knew who he was.≤

The No. 8 Knights knew who he was after his goal in the last minute of the half. The score made it 3-1, quickly answering a goal by Southeastπs Sean Norris.

In the second half, Fullerton added an assist and another goal to his dayπs resume, pushing the lead to 5-1. East senior Jake Rocke also had a full stat line, claiming a goal and two assists.

Both East and Southeast lost a wealth of seniors from last yearπs teams, but still have found success using new faces like Fullertonπs. The Spartans are now 9-0. Southeast is 8-2.

Of all the blossoming young talent, Southeast coach Linda Wilson said: ≥Itπs fun, isnπt it? I knew itπd be a fun game. I was just kind of hoping itπd be a little closer.≤