Sidney Wettlaufer scored the game-winning goal for the Lincoln Southeast girls soccer team on Tuesday in a 1-0 victory against Lincoln North Star at Seacrest Field.
But her day wasn’t done yet. After that, Wettlaufer still played some in the junior varsity game that came right after the varsity contest.
That’s just one example of how the Knights are a pretty young squad this season.
But the season has still been good. The Knights have a 9-4 record, and are ranked in the top-10 of the NSAA wild-card points. That means they’ll be a No. 2 seed for one of the district tournaments next week, so they’ll have a decent chance to make the state tournament, especially this season when some of the traditional Class A powers haven’t been as dominant.
There are times when Southeast has three freshmen in the match at the same time. And going into the season, only one of the 11 starters had varsity experience.
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The Knights’ winning goal, in the 25th minute, was an example of Southeast battling against older teams while using players without much varsity experience. Wettlaufer got a pass from junior Cadence McCurdy and booted a shot into the far corner of the net from the right wing.
“The goal, and the assist, those are both JV swingers (play both varsity and JV),†said Southeast coach Liz Sundberg. “We’re a young team, but we absolutely are building and doing the things at the right time of the season that we need to. (Sidney) is great with the ball at her feet and quick and can do things up top, so I’m proud of her.â€
Sundberg is in her first year as head coach after previously being the reserve coach at Lincoln Southwest.
“I’m definitely excited for what we’re building into,†Sundberg said. “It was a tough year coming into it as a first-year coach, with COVID and everything. It’s taken some time for the girls to get to know me and my expectations, but we’re getting there.â€
Another freshman, Sam Searcey, leads the Knights with seven goals.
The goalie, Samaya Hogg, is a sophomore who has had some great matches.
“She’s done an incredible job for us,†Sundberg said. “She’s come up with amazing saves during big-time games.â€
A couple of Southeast’s results against Lincoln’s other top teams showed Sundberg the Knights are improving. Southeast lost against Lincoln East 6-1 early in the season, but only lost by one goal against No. 1 Lincoln Southwest last week.
“We (lost) 6-1 against East in the beginning of the season, and from that loss to kind of turn it around and play Southwest 1-0, we’ve made some improvements,†Sundberg said.
North Star dropped to 5-8.
Photos: A roundup of our favorite staff images from the high school spring sports season
State track and field, 5.22
Ashland-Greenwood's Evan Shepard (4) falls over the final hurdle in the Boys 110 Meter Dash during the Class B State Track and Field finals at Burke Stadium. Shepard finished in 7th Place in the contest.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
State track and field, 5.22
Ogallala's Milan Coggins makes it safely over the bar in the girls high jump at the Class B state track meet Saturday at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Millard North vs. Gretna, 5.18
Gretna goalkeeper Rainna Daharsh reaches for the championship trophy after the Dragons defeated Millard North 2-1Â in the Class A girls soccer state championship Tuesday at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Millard North vs. Gretna, 5.18
Gretna's Savannah Defini (green jersey) scores what turned out to be the game-winning goal against Millard North's Aaliyah Matthews in the second half of the Class A girls soccer state championship Tuesday at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Norris vs. Omaha Skutt, 5.19
Norris' Kennedy Sullivan (1) looks on as Omaha Skutt mobs teammate Cady Betsworth, who scored the SkyHawks first-half goal in the Class B girls state soccer final Wednesday at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Beatrice vs. Norris, 5.20
Norris' CJ Hood, trying to steal, gets tagged out by Beatrice third baseman Austin Burroughs for the second out of the seventh inning Thursday at the Class B state tournament at Werner Park in Papillion.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest vs. Omaha South, 5.18
The free kick of Lincoln Southwest's Eli Rhodes glides past Omaha South's Rodolfo Ramirez Sandoval in the closing moments of the Class A boys state soccer championship game Tuesday at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for April
Lincoln Southwest baserunner Ethan Morrow creates a cloud of diving into home as a Lincoln Southeast wild pitch allows him to score from third base in the fourth inning Thursday at Densmore Field. Southwest won 7-4.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Top Journal Star photos for April
Lincoln East's Admir Mujkic (left) received a foul for a high kick near the face of Lincoln High's Jaden Weiland in the second half Wednesday at Seacrest Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Top Journal Star photos for April
Lincoln East's Brayden McPhail (right) reacts after kicking the game-winning penalty past Lincoln High goalkeeper Owen Thompson (not shown) on Wednesday at Seacrest Field. Thompson had saved McPhail's original attempt, but was judged to have come off his line before McPhail struck the ball.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Lincoln High vs. Lincoln East, 4.14
Lincoln East's Brayden Bouwens stretches for a successful penalty kick by Lincoln High's Ronan Parks during a shootout on April 14 at Seacrest Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Waverly vs. Norris, 4.13
Norris' Reese Borer (left) — who scored all three Titans goals — looks to pass against Waverly's Kiearya Reinwald on Tuesday during the Eastern Midlands Conference Tournament semifinals in Firth.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Waverly vs. Norris, 4.13
Norris' Molly Ramsey (left) looks on as Waverly goalkeeper Tara Tenopir scoops up the ball in the first half Tuesday during the Eastern Midlands Conference Tournament semifinals in Firth.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Lincoln Southeast vs. Lincoln Northeast, 4.8
Lincoln Southeast's Tyler Vander Woude (3) and Lincoln Northeast's Juan Alferez battle for the ball in the first half Thursday at Beechner Athletic Complex.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast vs. Lincoln Northeast, 4.8
Lincoln Southeast goalkeeper Emmett Anderson (center) kicks the shot of Lincoln Northeast's Brice Eloume Epansang (19) as the Knights' Ryan Tisdale (left) looks on during the first half Thursday at Beechner Athletic Complex.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest vs. Lincoln East, 4.7
Lincoln East's Paige Poppe (center) celebrates her game-tying goal in the closing seconds of regular time against Lincoln Southwest on Wednesday at Seacrest Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest vs. Lincoln East, 4.7
Lincoln Southwest goalkeeper Alexa Gobel (1) stops a penalty kick from Lincoln East's Ashley Bredthauer on Wednesday at Seacrest Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest vs. Lincoln East, 4.7
Lincoln Southwest's Ava Spinar (second left) scores the Silver Hawks' first goal despite the tight defense of Lincoln East's Carly Bredthauer (2) as Clara Catlin (6) and Annie Mulder (15) look on in the first half on Wednesday at Seacrest Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest vs. Lincoln North Star, 4.6
Lincoln North Star baserunner Caden Steiger reaches out to help up Lincoln Southwest third baseman Telo Arsiaga (6), whom he knocked over attempting to steal third in the second inning on Tuesday at Den Hartog Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest vs. Lincoln North Star, 4.6
Lincoln North Star shortstop Cooper Westlund makes a sliding catch on a popup hit by Lincoln Southwest in the first inning Tuesday at Den Hartog Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest vs. Lincoln North Star, 4.6
An RBI single by Lincoln Southwest batter Will Johnson (foreground) gets past Lincoln North Star third baseman Cameron Teinert for the Silver Hawks' eighth run against the Navigators on Tuesday at Den Hartog Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest vs. Papillion-La Vista, 4.2
The cap of Papillion-La Vista's Gage Ingram (23) comes off in the gusty wind as he looks to turn the double play against Lincoln Southwest on April 2 at Den Hartog Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Lincoln Southwest vs. Papillion-La Vista, 4.2
Lincoln Southwest's Brock Merkel (8) circles third base and scores Friday at Den Hartog Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Beatrice vs. Elkhorn North, 4.1
Beatrice baserunner Elijah Mangnall (3), who scored the game-winning run, celebrates with teammate Cooper Hamilton, who drove him in, in the bottom of the seventh inning against Elkhorn North on Thursday in Beatrice.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Beatrice vs. Elkhorn North, 4.1
Elkhorn North's Luke Tillman (top) forces out Beatrice baserunner Max Reis but his slide prevents the throw to first in the fourth inning Thursday in Beatrice.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Beatrice vs. Elkhorn North, 4.1
Elkhorn North baserunner Brandon Cervania (left) gets tagged out in a rundown between third and home by Beatrice's Austin Burroughs in he fourth inning on Thursday in Beatrice.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Pius X vs. Lincoln North Star, 3.31
Lincoln North Star goalkeeper Noah Schroeder dives but can't stop a shot from Lincoln Pius X midfielder Morgan Armagost in the first half Wednesday at Aldrich Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Pius X vs. Lincoln North Star, 3.31
A free kick from Lincoln Pius X midfielder Morgan Armagost (not shown) gets past the wall of Lincoln North Star's Laith Al-Waely (from left), Ahmed Al-Waely and Carlos Mejia Delarca for the Thunderbolts' third goal of the match Wednesday at Aldrich Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Pius X vs. Lincoln North Star, 3.31
Lincoln Pius X's Nam Ninh (right) gets knocked off the ball by Lincoln North Star's Carlos Mejia Delarca in the first half Wednesday at Aldrich Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast vs. Lincoln Southwest, 3.30
Lincoln Southeast baserunner Will Jesske (left) rushes back to third during a pick-off attempt as Lincoln Southwest Telo Arsiaga catches the throw. A balk was called on the play, allowing Jesske to score.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast vs. Lincoln Southwest, 3.30
Lincoln Southeast pinch-runner Hunter Dragoo (8) reacts after getting picked off first base for the first out in the seventh inning against Lincoln Southwest on Tuesday at Den Hartog Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast vs. Lincoln Southwest, 3.30
Lincoln Southeast's David Swanson (3) reaches for the throw as Lincoln Southwest baserunner Will Johnson (bottom) steals second in the first inning Tuesday at Den Hartog Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln East vs. Lincoln Northeast, 3.19
Lincoln East's Haider Al-Barakat (right) breaks away from Lincoln Northeast's Sa Kyaw (center), and Jack Haeffner before scoring a goal in the first half on March 19 at Seacrest Field.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Lincoln East vs. Lincoln Southwest, 3.22
Lincoln Southwest's Eli Rhodes (right) celebrates his goal against Lincoln East with teammates, including Quintin Kniss, on Monday at Seacrest Field.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln East vs. Lincoln Southwest, 3.22
Lincoln Southwest's Braden Lackey kicks the ball during a match against Lincoln East on Monday at Seacrest Field.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln Pius X vs. Lincoln Southwest, 3.19
Lincoln Pius X's Emerson Dolph (10) throws to first to force out Lincoln Southwest's Joon Dunsmore in the first inning Friday at Sherman Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Lincoln Pius X vs. Lincoln Southwest, 3.19
Lincoln Southwest batter Brock Merkel (left) celebrates after driving in two runs with a double as Lincoln Pius X's Colby Chapelle looks in the fourth inning Friday at Sherman Field.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com . On Twitter .
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