KEARNEY – The Bearcat boys soccer team used second half heroics from junior Colt Straka, who added two goals to tie then take the lead over Grand Island and earn a Central Nebraska showdown victory in the heated rivalry on Tuesday night. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
The Bearcats had suffered back-to-back losses at Seacrest Field, falling to Lincoln East and Lincoln Southwest after starting the season 6-0. Kearney had surrendered multiple goals to both teams and was looking to get back on track with scores of their own after being held without a goal in their losses.
KHS Boys Soccer
Grand Island entered at 2-4 on the season but battled with some of Class A’s top teams, including a narrow defeat to the Silverhawks who took down Kearney on Monday night prior to their rivalry matchup.
Kearney and Grand Island began the rivalry with a mad dash beginning, slowing and settling in for a back-and-forth opening ten minutes. However, the Islanders speed proved deadly as junior Moises Trochez darted past Kearney defenders, putting a shot on goal to the left corner and scoring in the 14′ to take a 1-0 lead.
The lead would remain the same heading into halftime, as Kearney missed several chances to tie the contest with several set plays on long throws into the box and crossing shots coming from corner kicks.
Head Coach for Kearney Scott Steinbrook would make some adjustments to his lineup in the second half that proved fruitful, especially for Colt Straka. Straka’s first strike came off a free kick just outside of the box for a 49′ score to tie the game. Less than ten minutes, Straka juggled the ball in front and lifted an upwards shot that landed into the back of the goal for a 57′ score and KHS took the lead.
With momentum on their side, the Bearcats did not allow Grand Island to see many shot opportunities for the final twenty minutes, earning a 2-1 lead and earning the El Clasico Central Nebraska Showdown trophy.
The Bearcats improved to 7-2, cutting down their two game losing skid, and will return home on Thursday taking on Omaha Central. KGFW will broadcast the contest with pregame coverage beginning at 6:45 PM with Alex Hammeke on the call.
