Video: Diving header goal
See the heads-up play out of WashingtonSeveral Nebraska boys soccer teams that failed to win more than they lost a year ago have reversed their fortunes and are looking to extend their 2016 season as state championship play in classes A and B get underway this week.
Delving into our research to determine our Nebraska Top 10 boys soccer turnarounds, we discovered that five programs from our top 10 have made the two-class, eight-team state tournament brackets, which are set to begin play Thursday and Friday at Creighton University's Morrison Stadium.
While no program in the group of Omaha Westside (Class A, No. 3 seed), Millard North (Class A, No. 4 seed), Schuyler (Class B, No. 4 seed), Elkhorn (Class B, No. 7 seed) and Omaha Gross Catholic (Class B, No. 8 seed) have been tabbed state tournament favorites, they have all made their respective fields.
Omaha Westside is projected to go on the deepest postseason run. Along with the Warriors, Millard North and Schuyler, Kearney Catholic and South Sioux City make our top five.
South Sioux City's
Gonzalo Ledesma and
Bryan Arellano are the top offensive players from teams in our top 10 after they combined for 45 goals this season.
Jack Finochiaro leads Omaha Westside with 48 offensive points, including 19 goals.
Jake Elam, of Millard South, is the top 10's top goalkeeper with 137 saves in goal. Millard North's
Nick Stroeher accumulated 129 saves to this point in the season.
See the Nebraska boys soccer Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard and also the Nebraska boys soccer playoff bracketsNebraska's Top 10 boys soccer turnarounds
1. Omaha WestsideFinal 2014-15 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 15th (6-9)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 3rd (18-2)
2. Kearney CatholicFinal 2014-15 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 31st (2-11)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 18th (10-7)
3. Millard North (Omaha)Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 8th (8-9)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 4th (14-4)
4. SchuylerFinal 2014-15 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record); 14th (9-10)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 5th (13-4)
5. South Sioux CityFinal 2014-15 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 21st (8-9)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 9th (14-6)
6. YorkFinal 2014-15 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 20th (4-9)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 19th (11-7)
7. Millard South (Omaha)Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 20th (7-11)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 8th (12-9)
8. ElkhornFinal 2014-15 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 13th (7-9)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 6th (11-6)
9. Gross Catholic (Omaha)Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 18th (8-9)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 11th (11-5)
10. PlattsmouthFinal 2014-15 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 19th (7-10)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 14th (11-7)