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BY STU POSPISIL

LINCOLN - Mike Johnson's new role on the Lincoln East soccer team hasn't made him less productive.

The state's Gatorade player of the year has 12 goals and seven assists entering this weekend's start to the state soccer tournament in Omaha.

Johnson usually is a forward, but in the second half of this season he has seen more time as an inside midfielder. Yet he has scored just one goal less than he had last year, when he was an All-Nebraska pick.

"He's had a good year considering he's had the tag of Gatorade player of the year," East coach Jeff Hoham said. "He's gotten more assists than he had his first three years. That and his leadership as a captain have paid off in what has been a difficult season for us."

East went into the season without goalkeeper Brady Beran, severely hurt in a football collision last September. Then the Spartans lost forward Nick Zalewski for the season with a dislocated kneecap April 19 against Lincoln Southeast.

They've overcome the obstacles to put together a 12-2 record and hold the No. 2 ranking in the Top 10. Their opponent at 9 a.m. Saturday at Creighton University's Morrison Stadium is defending Class A champion Omaha Westside (8-9).

Johnson called the Gatorade honor a bull's eye on his back.

"Coming into the year, I had the mind-set of being unselfish, and that's what has helped the team," he said. "We have so many good offensive players that if teams man-mark me or double team, we have so many who can pick up the slack and put the ball in the back of the net.

"My year wasn't going to be off the charts."

Johnson usually replaces Pat Dingeldine at midfielder when Dingeldine is off the field.

"It allows us to play the ball to Mike's feet, where there's better chances for good touches and opening up the other side of the field," Hoham said. "It's creating more opportunities for our outside midfielders and other forwards. And it confuses some defenses at times."

Johnson said there are plenty of other scorers in the East lineup, including sophomores Badum Maaloo and Anthony Dingeldine, Pat's brother.

Johnson's college choice is Hastings, an NAIA school. He had interest from NCAA Division I schools and visited Valparaiso, where he was offered a scholarship that would have covered tuition. But Indiana wasn't the state for him.

One draw to Hastings College was its coach, Chris Kranjc.

"I absolutely love Hastings' coach. Coach is just a great guy," Johnson said. "Their program has been very successful and their business program is pretty stellar, from what I've heard."