I'm starting to think that the Lincoln East soccer teams are going to ask that I never again referee one of their matches. In the past three years, I have been the center referee in four games that ended in East being upset (two boys matches, two girls matches). The boys team was the latest victim of the Wilson curse when they fell to Kearney 3-0 yesterday. The girls team also lost yesterday, to North Platte, but I had nothing to do with that game.
The boys game was a very fun match to be a part of. It featured two very talented teams, both of whom should have a chance to work their way through the state tournament in a couple weeks. It was a clean, hard-fought match, and the players kept it clean throughout almost without exception. Best of all, it was the sort of game where I was pretty much able to stay out of the way. I only called four or five fouls in the first half, and I think I ended up below twenty for the game. The final score looks a bit like a blowout, but don't read too much into it. As far as I could tell the two teams were pretty evenly matched. Kearney won yesterday, and they earned the victory. But if those two teams were to play ten times this season, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they went 5-5.
Unfortunately, the Journal Star once again missed out on covering a good game. For that matter, they didn't cover any local high school soccer matches yesterday. I didn't see any TV cameras either. Bummer.
It seems weird that next week is already District Tournament time. Before then, I'll be a part of three more big-time matches this week, each one of which could have serious implications for the participating teams' seasons. Then next week I have accepted contracts for six District matches, including a center on a final. After that, I'm hoping that my assessments from the regular season and District Tournament are enough to get me some matches at the State Tournament. And as always, I would love to get a center on a State final. I came close last year, but no dice. Will this be the year?
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