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Published Tuesday

May 13, 2003

Lincoln East handles unbeaten Prep

BY STU POSPISIL

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Lincoln East's "garbage collector" helped the Spartans toss Omaha Creighton Prep's undefeated soccer season in the trash.

Mike Johnson opened the scoring in East's 2-1 victory in the District A-3 final as the sophomore tapped in a ball that began as a corner kick by Jason Pickerel. When Prep goalkeeper Ryan Cunningham didn't handle the ball cleanly, the Spartans' season scoring leader didn't waste the opportunity to pick up his 11th goal.

"Right before the game, we talked about how long it had been since we scored an ugly goal," East Coach Jeff Hoham said. "If we had an advantage, it was that we had speed on the outside. We had to create as many opportunities from the outside on the wing.

"And Mike always seems to be around the goal. That's why we call him the garbage collector."

Nick Zalewski scored later in the first half for a 2-0 lead, with the Junior Jays only able to muster a late first-half goal by Eastern Illinois recruit David Amdor and not much else in the second half against East's defensive trapping.

"Who would think that we would take on a team that talented, that fast and that creative and hold them to one goal," Hoham said. "I have to credit Pickerel's defense. He hadn't played more than five minutes all season at outside backer, but we didn't think Tyler Berry and Don Freeman would get hurt."

Monday's final, moved from Prep to Millard North because of field conditions, drew an overflow crowd estimated at 600.

The loss by the top-ranked Junior Jays (12-1) means another season will go by without an undefeated Class A champion in boys soccer. Even when soccer was a club sport unsanctioned by the Nebraska School Activities Association, Class A schools hadn't produced an undefeated team since Prep won the Zenon Cup in 1980 under present Ralston Girls Coach John Walsh.

Top 10 No. 4 East (14-1) will be the top seed in Class A. The Spartans face Class A No. 8 Columbus as their first-round opponent Saturday at Seacrest Field in Lincoln.

Omaha Creighton Prep (12-1).........................1 0-1

Lincoln East (14-1).........................2 0-2

Ä Goals: P, Amdor. LE, Johnson, Zalewski.

Spartans stop No. 1 Prep

BY TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star

OMAHA -- The filthy jersey and blotches of mud on Jason Pickerel's arms didn't dissuade coach Jeff Hoham from hugging one of Lincoln East's defensive heroes.

After all, it is the postseason --time to get down and dirty.

Fourth-ranked East took down the only unbeaten boys soccer team left in Class A with its 2-1 victory against No. 1 Omaha Creighton Prep in the A-3 district final Monday at Millard North.

Mike Johnson and Nick Zalewski scored first-half goals for the Spartans, but it was a superb effort from a patchwork defense that drew plaudits from Hoham and has East very much alive as it bid to repeat as state champion.

"We needed to test ourselves and go toe-to-toe with a very talented team," Hoham said. "But with the injuries that we have now, and as talented and as fast and as offensive-minded as Prep is, to hold them to one goal is something."

With the win, East unofficially wrapped up the No. 1 seed at state. The Spartans (14-1) are expected to face No. 8 seed Columbus in the first round Saturday at Seacrest Field.

Creighton Prep (12-1) will qualify as a wild card, as will Omaha Westside, which was beaten 4-3 in a shootout Monday by Bellevue East. Westside's loss will apparently keep Lincoln High from the tournament. Official pairings will be released today.

With East and Prep both assured of wild cards, Monday's meeting came down to a fight for the No. 1 seed and momentum heading into state.

The Spartans got rolling early with Johnson's goal in the opening minute. The sophomore took advantage of when Prep keeper Ryan Cunningham momentarily fumbled a corner kick served by Justin Lightner.

East went ahead 2-0 in the 36th minute as Zalewski beat the defense with the ball at his feet and drilled a shot from close range.

Prep's lone goal, from David Amdor in the 39th minute, did little to disarm East of its confidence. The Spartans dominated in possession time during long stretches of the second half, reducing the Junior Jays' best scoring opportunity to the closing seconds.

Pickerel performed well in his first extensive play as an outside defender and East won with others in relatively new positions.

Prep had replaced the Spartans at No. 1 after their loss to Millard South late in the regular season.

"That loss really sobered us," said Johnson. "There was a lot of doubt after the Millard South game but coming back to win a game like this shows we're very capable. It's all up to us."