Columbus Scotus soccer beats Blair behind four goals from Emma Brezenski (2024)

BLAIR, Neb. — Columbus Scotus showed its chin Saturday morning.

The Class B No. 8 Shamrocks took an early punch in the form of a two-score deficit, but swung back with four straight — all from junior forward Emma Brezenski — for a 4-2 win over seventh-ranked Blair in the girls B-8 District Final.

It puts Scotus into next week’s state tournament for the fourth straight season.

“We kind of trusted in our abilities, trusted in each other, knew we could come back from it,” Brezenski said. “And we got it done.”

No panic, right?

“A little bit,” she said with a smile, “but we didn’t show it.”

After Claire Anderson and Valeria Hernandez scored goals less than eight minutes apart to give the host Bears an early lead, Scotus coach Kristie Brezenski made an adjustment in formation that seemed to unlock her daughter.

Mission accomplished, with three goals coming before the break.

The first, a brilliant individual effort in the 26th minute, seemed to settle the Shamrocks in. The South Dakota State recruit skipped past a trio of defenders and went far post to pull one back.

“That was huge,” she said.

She’d convert a pair of penalty kicks — one drawn by her, another on a Blair handball — less than ten minutes apart to give Scotus a lead heading to halftime.

The goals came on three consecutive shots for the Shamrocks.

Brezenski’s fourth — and 40th of the year — came via a great centering pass from Izzie Kadavy in the 70th minute to put things on ice.It was her eighth hat trick of the season. She’s tallied 20 goals in the last four matches for the Rocks.

“When we got down 2-0, we just wanted to find Emma,” Kristie Brezenski said. “She just wasn’t finding it in the middle, so we decided to push her up top to see if she could get it up there.”

It was her team’s ninth straight win, and first this season after falling behind.

“That’s very encouraging,” she said.

After missing the majority of last season with an injury, Emma Brezeski said being on the field at Morrison Stadium for the state tournament is something she’s thought about since.

“Sitting on the sidelines it was so hard just watching,” she said. “I’m so excited to be back.”

Columbus Scotus (13-3) 3 1 - 4

At Blair (11-6) 2 0 - 0

GOALS: CS, Emma Brezenski 4; B, Claire Anderson, Valeria Hernandez.

Other results

B-1 at Gretna East

Gretna East 10, Plattsmouth 0

Kendall Dobberstein had four assists, setting a new Class B record for helpers in a season (29), as the top-ranked Griffons rolled to the win and the first-year program's inaugural state tournament berth.

Junior forward Sonora DeFini had five goals for Gretna East (18-1). It pushed her season total to 45 goals, including 12 in three postseason matches.

B-2 at Omaha duch*esne

Omaha duch*esne 4, Omaha Roncalli 0

A brace from Annie Hoover led a second-half surge for the third-ranked Cardinals. duch*esne (16-1) got all four goals after the break, sealing a spot in the state tournament for the fifth consecutive season.

B-3 at Norris

Norris 10, Schuyler 0

Boise State recruit Kennedy Sullivan had four goals, pushing her season total to 29, and the second-ranked Titans punched their ticket to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive season.

Teammates Nicole Keetle and Ella Klein each added a pair of goals for Norris (15-2). The Titans have played for the state title in each of their last three trips.

B-4 at Bennington

Bennington 5, Scottsbluff 0

Taylor McFalls and Claire Leight each scored once and assisted on another to pace the fifth-ranked Badgers. It will be the third straight season ending with a state tournament trip for Bennington (13-4).

B-5 at Grand Island Northwest

Grand Island Northwest 4, York 0

Anna Keller had a brace, and teammate Taylor Brown added a goal and an assist for Grand Island Northwest (14-3). The Vikings clinched a spot in the state tournament for the second time in program history.

B-6 at Omaha Skutt

Omaha Skutt 1, Omaha Mercy 0

Phia Higgason’s score off of a corner kick in the 46th minute was the lone goal in fourth-ranked Skutt’s victory over No. 9 Mercy. The SkyHawks (11-6) will go for a fourth consecutive state title in their 27th straight appearance.

B-7 at Elkhorn

Elkhorn 6, Ralston 0

Olivia Bailey had a hat trick and added an assist, pushing No. 6 Elkhorn (13-5) past tenth-ranked Ralston. It’ll be the first trip to state since 2019 for the Antlers.