BOYS STATE SOCCER TOURNAMENT: East advances to final

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By Joshua Buechler

Lincoln Journal Star

OMAHA -- Before Lincoln East's game against Millard West in the Class A state semifinals, Spartans Coach Jeff Hoham sent a message to his team.

It was simple and clear: Play your most physical game of the season -- or don't expect to advance to Wednesday night's final. The No. 1-ranked team in the state took Hoham's advice to heart and defeated No. 3 Millard West 2-1 on Monday night at Bryan Stadium in front of a two-game attendance of 1,050.

"We knew they'd be more physical and had to match it," David Olson said.

East's only two losses this season came to Lincoln High. On both occasions, Hoham said the Links disrupted East's possession style.

That wasn't the case against the Wildcats, who defeated East last year in the semifinals 2-1.

Millard West took the lead just under 18 minutes into the game on a header from Seth Taute. East's Grant Horejsi tied the game about seven minutes later on an assist from Olson.

"Momentum is contagious, so I thought it gave us a good start," Horejsi said.

Knotted at one, East opened the second half the aggressor.

"I felt like we were controlling the game, and as that half progressed, I had all the confidence in the world we were going to put one in the back of the net," Ho-

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ham said.

Horejsi, who entered the state tournament with one goal, scored his third in two postseason games at the 67:23 mark. The senior, playing about 80 percent with a torn ACL, took a corner from Zac Zalewski and knocked it into the right side of the net from point-blank range.

"He's coming out here and giving it everything he has," Hoham said. "I have to pull Grant off that field. Otherwise, you'd have to carry him."

Millard West ended its season at 15-4, but nearly tied the game up late several times. The Wildcats' best chance came with just 2:49 remaining, but a goal by Greg Eynon was nullified because of an obstruction call in the box.

"It was a good game -- we had our chances -- but our mistakes were punished," Millard West Coach Ron Beernink said.

East, now 15-2, will face Omaha Burke, which defeated Omaha Westside 3-2 in the second game, on Wednesday night at 8:15 at Bryan Stadium. Burke, No. 6, is 14-3 on the season, while No. 9 Westside finished 12-6.

The Spartans, making their 11th-straight trip to state, beat the Bulldogs in the 1996 and 1997 championship games for their lone Class A titles.