Titan Boys Varsity Soccer ranked No. 1 out of all class A at the end of the regular season. Coming into the playoffs, the team experienced glory in a 2-1 win over Lincoln East in their Tuesday, May 12, quarterfinal matchup at Creighton’s Morrison Stadium. Three nights later, the team was struck down in a brutal 5-4 semifinal loss against Lincoln Southwest in a storm-delayed game that ultimately went into overtime. 

Going into Friday, junior goalkeeper Landon Donley said the team had been feeling “confident after the win…. The team connected on and off the pitch and knowing … we can capitalize on some errors and keep pushing forward.”

Various injuries and weather delays affected the May 15 game for both sides. Caden Erwin, who celebrated a spectacular goal for the Titans at Tuesday’s quarterfinal, was sent to the hospital with two broken leg bones near the start of Friday’s game against Lincoln Southwest.

That moment fired up the team, Donley said: “We weren’t sad, as the injury fueled us more in attempt to win the game for Caden, as he has been a huge contributor to our season.”

Having a record of 15-2 during the regular season, the Titans were the most feared team throughout Class A. Their only two losses came from the Creighton Prep Bluejays and the Papillion La Vista Monarchs. 

Tuesday’s quarterfinal game posed its own challenges to the team, especially for Donley as goalie.

“Our communication in the back field, as in our style of play, we try to take away any chance to give up a  goal, and having our center backs and sometimes myself trying to communicate the entire game while playing can be difficult,” Donley said.

At the season’s end, most of the varsity lineup is moving on to post-graduation futures, leaving Donley with big shoes to fill.  

“With 19 grads, there will be a new group that I am almost expected to lead without knowing them well,” Donley said. “So the focus next year for me will be to be a team leader with my actions and voice not only on but off the pitch, too.”