• Photo Showcase: Girls state soccer finals

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For a program that once put together six straight state titles, one was enough to end its drought.

Omaha Marian's Monica Bosiljevac took a perfectly placed pass from the right touch line and knocked home her own rebound in the 35th minute. Then the second-ranked Crusaders leaned on their stingy defense for a 1-0 win over No. 7 Omaha Westside Monday night in the Class A girls state soccer championship match.

Marian won three games at the state tournament with a combined three goals, the fewest ever scored by a girls state champion.

“Once we had a goal,” senior forward Ellen McCormick said, “I knew we won.”

McCormick delivered the assist after beating a Westside defender to a ball bouncing toward the out-of-bounds line at Creighton's Morrison Stadium. Bosiljevac got to the pass alone on the back side and shot directly at Westside keeper Kourtney Woracek, who made the first save.

But the rebound bounced right back to Bosiljevac, who put it away easily to give Marian its first state title since 2003 — the last of six consecutive championships.

“With this team, one is definitely enough,” Marian coach Ed Dudley said. “If we get one or two, it's usually game over.”

The shutout was the 16th of the season for Marian keeper Julianne Mandolfo. The Crusaders gave up just three goals all season.

“Going into this game, we knew they were so strong defensively,” Westside coach Nathan Moseley said. “If we got down it was going to be tough.”

Marian had plenty of other opportunities, but netted only Bosiljevac's putback.

“She couldn't get that first one,” Dudley said. “She got the second.”

The loss continues a long string of title-game disappointments for Westside. The Warriors have played for the crown seven times, but are still seeking their first championship. Westside was held scoreless for the first time since the second game of the season.

Bosiljevac said getting one score helped the entire Marian team settle into the game.

“We know we have a really strong defense,” the senior said. “We don't go in thinking ‘Let's just score one.' But if we do, we're confident they can take care of the game.”

Marian, which took home titles each year from 1998 to 2003, won its 10th crown in school history.

“It feels great,” Dudley said. “These kids are amazing. They've worked hard all year for this.”

Om. Westside (18-5)..................0 0—0
Om. Marian (17-3)..................1 0—1
Goals: OM, Monica Bosiljevac.

Contact the writer:

850-0781, nickrubek@hotmail.com

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