Not having an experienced goalie on your high school soccer team may be an adventure, but it's not necessarily a good thing.
Often, giving up goals that could have been stopped can cost the game.
This year's Lincoln Pius It was a good adventure with lots of opportunities. State tournament.
On Saturday, No. 6 ranked Pius X capped off an impressive week with a 3-2 shootout victory over No. 7 Omaha Westside at Aldrich Field. Pius X won 5-4 in the penalty shootout.
Earlier this week, Pius X defeated No. 1 Lincoln Southwest and No. 4 Lincoln East to win the conference tournament for the first time in program history. The Thunderbolts are on a six-game winning streak.
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And it all happened with the goalkeeper playing in the position for the first time.
Pius X sophomore goalie Kate Miller has been playing soccer since she was 6 years old, but has never been a goalie.
“Never,” she said.
The Thunderbolts' goaltender last year was a senior, but her potential replacement was injured in the fall.
So it's time for coach Steve Andersen to figure out who can play in net.
“At the beginning of the season, we asked her to put on gloves and she had never worn gloves before. And she has eight shutouts and she's just a rock. '' said Andersen. “She's a great discoverer.”
Last year, Miller was a forward on the junior varsity team. She also plays basketball and has some skills that make her a good choice for a goalie.
Miller does a good job of playing the ball up the field and starting the offense, and is also comfortable going to the ground to secure saves.
“I watched her play basketball this winter, and she's a power forward on the national team,” Andersen said. “She has her great attention to detail, her grit, and that’s what you look for in a goalie.”
Miller's first major action as a goalie came during tryouts at the end of February.
“On the third day of tryouts, I was told that the player who was the best goalie would probably be the varsity goalie,” Miller said. “They were all very good and for some reason they picked me, so now I’m the keeper.”
Perhaps she'll be a field player again in the future, but for now she's trying to help Pius X get to the state tournament.
“It's not just what's best for myself, it's what's best for the team and a lot of people. That's why I did it,” she said.
Miller gets a lot of help from a solid group of defenders in Nora Stewart, Jocelyn Steuter, Chloe Corum and Brooke Thomsen.
Twice on Saturday, Pius X came back to tie the game. Westside took the lead early in the first half on a quick breakaway goal from Norah Johnson. Pius X responded with a goal off a long shot from Emily Klings.
In overtime, Jill Kubat's goal gave Westside a 2-1 lead.
But with six minutes left in overtime, Pius X tied the game again on Tatum Jaimes' 20-yard shot.
The game remained tied, and Pius X and the rookie goalkeeper went to penalties for the first time this season.
“It was kind of scary, I'm not going to lie. I didn't like it,” Miller said. “But I had a lot of fun learning a new position.”
In the shootout, Omaha Westside made its first four kicks, but its last attempt missed to left. Kate Vacek then placed a shot on goal, giving Pius X the victory.
Pius X went 5/5 on kicks in the penalty shootout.
“We practice them religiously,” Andersen said. “That kick gives them confidence. They're playing with confidence now.”
Photo: Lincoln Pius X Women's Soccer vs. Omaha Westside, April 20th
Contact Brent C. Wagner at bwagner@journalstar.com or 402-473-7435.