New Season, Same Movie

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You’ll have to excuse Lincoln Southwest if there’s a case of déjà vu spreading.

If this season feels like one the Silver Hawks have lived before, it’s because they have - last season.

This campaign’s flagpole moments are eerily similar to one that ended at Morrison Stadium last May.

• Shootout loss to Norfolk – after 100 minutes of scoreless soccer - in the season’s second week.

• A mid-April setback to rival Lincoln Southeast.

• A bounce back effort for Heartland Athletic Conference tournament title immediately after.

• Hotly contested loss to Omaha South to wrap up the regular season.

Adding one more similarity — a trip to the state tournament — will mean Southwest was able to adapt and overcome.

The Class A, No. 3 Silver Hawks enter the postseason hunting an eighth-straight appearance at state, a trek that begins with next week’s district tournament.

It’s a side that is a real threat to win it all, too — the Silver Hawks own a pair of wins over fellow top five teams.

 “That’s a testament to the players for stepping up and rolling with it,” Silver Hawks coach Derek Scheich said. “It’s been kind of a process over the course of the season to get everyone singing from the same sheet.”

An early-season high note — a shootout victory over perennial power Omaha Creighton Prep — was muted a bit as injuries began to mount.

That match, played on the final Saturday in March, was the last time Scheich penciled in his preferred 11.

Shuffling in the back began as three of the four Silver Hawk starters on defense were hurt. Only one defender – senior Tanner Drought – has played in all 13 Southwest matches this season.

“It’s just been a next man up mentality and we’re making the most of it,” Scheich said.

Junior captain Peyton Tiernan shored things up a bit, moving from the midfield to a spot in the back left.

“That’s just been huge,” Scheich said. “He’s been a real servant for us.  He probably doesn’t want to play centerback, but he does for the team.”

Tiernan’s absence in the middle created a void that senior Noah Schroeder has helped fill. Schroeder has chipped in five goals and five assists – good for second on the team in points - in a more attacking role. 

“He’s surpassed every expectation,” Scheich said. “He sometimes plays like he’s two guys.”

Scheich also gives a tip of the cap to sophomore Ricky Gomez, who he said stepped into a starting role in the middle and has taken on a lot of the defensive responsibilities as Schroeder pushes forward.

And then there’s the man behind them, keeper Brentyn Ebeler.  The senior, a two-year starter, has seven clean sheets despite all the moving around in front of him.

“We’ve had people step up and fill roles,” Ebeler said. “I feel like our togetherness is our strength. I feel like we’re a really tight group and work well together.”

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Ebeler will play at Northeast Community College, the 2024 national champion in junior college’s Division II. But before that, he’s looking to help get Southwest back to the same place his predecessor did – a state final.

After two seasons as the understudy behind keeper Dylan Beiermann, an All-Nebraska selection in 2024, Ebeler took over in goal a year ago and has 14 shutouts in his two seasons between the pipes.

“It was really good to have a guy ahead of me that was as talented as Dylan that I could watch and learn from,” Ebeler said.

He also credits the addition of assistant Jacob Hardy, a former Kearney standout that still owns the Nebraska high school record for career shutouts.

Scheich has pointed to Hardy’s senior season – when Kearney won three 1-0 matches at the state tournament – as a blueprint for the Silver Hawks.

“Postseason is who is willing to suffer, and who is going to play mistake-free soccer,” Scheich said.

On the other end of the pitch, the leader is someone with familiar names – yes, both.

Sophomore forward Messi Alawadi has a team-leading six goals for the Silver Hawks. His older brother Mabast was the leading scorer and an All-Nebraska selection in 2024. 

And much like his namesake Lionel Messi, the younger Alawadi has the gift of touch.

“He’s so good on the ball - it’s like glue, it’s stuck to his foot,” Ebeler said. “And he’s such a dog, to be honest. He stepped up through injury. He just loves soccer.”

Added Scheich: “He’s been super instrumental for us. His work rate and attacking quality has been really important for us.”

Alawadi, who has battled multiple leg injuries throughout the season, got the opening goal in the 3-0 revenge victory over third-ranked Lincoln Southeast in the HAC final in late April. It was a match that he wasn’t even expected to play in after landing awkwardly on his leg two days earlier.

His emergence wasn’t just important for Southwest, it was timely, too.

After racking up eight goals in a season-opening win over Lincoln North Star, the Silver Hawks averaged just two per match in their next nine outings.  Three of those matches were scoreless.

“Hopefully we can find our shooting boots here as we head into the postseason,” Scheich said.

In his tenth season as head coach, Scheich has helped the program establish a high bar. Southwest won its lone title in 2014, but was upset in the opening round the next season. Back-to-back missed state tournaments followed before Scheich took over.

The Silver Hawks have reached the state semifinals in four of their seven tournament appearances under Scheich, playing for the title twice.

“The expectation is really high,” he said. “We lose a match and sometimes the reaction is ‘this is the worst thing ever.’ One of the things we preach to our guys is that it’s not pressure, it’s an opportunity. ‘You’re at a program where the expectation is success, and you should embrace that.’”

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