Dominant Faith Lutheran boys, girls hope to break through in 3A state tournament

All season, Faith Lutheran’s soccer teams never had much to worry about in the Class 3A Southern League.

The Crusaders’ girls are 16-0, and the boys are 15-0-1. Both won their league tournament title games by two or more goals.

But the past two years, this is where the two teams have come to a screeching halt.

Both open the 3A state tournament Friday in Mesquite as No. 1 seeds from the South. But that hasn’t meant much the past two years, when they have combined to go 0-4 at state.

“We know that going through a full season in the South, we’re probably not going to see as many good teams as in the North,” Faith Lutheran boys coach Nate Hagge said. “Their quality of play and their ability to speed up the game and sustain has been one of the biggest factors.”

Added Crusaders girls coach Dave Elliott: “Some way, somehow, the Northern teams are just strong.”

Faith Lutheran’s boys have outscored opponents 110-2 this season; its girls have outscored foes 92-2.

On Friday, the Crusaders’ boys play Incline at 4 p.m., and the girls meet Spring Creek (20-2) at 6 p.m. The winners advance to Saturday’s title games at 10 a.m. (boys) and noon (girls).

Both coaches sense their players have upped the intensity in hopes of finally breaking through the semifinal round.

When the Crusaders’ boys began practice Monday, no one was celebrating the league title, Hagge said.

“None of the guys were completely excited with what happened (last) weekend,” he said. “That was part one. They’ve even said, 'That’s over.’ I can see a different determination and desire in them from the past.”

In the other boys semifinal, the South’s No. 2 seed, Boulder City (8-6-2), plays North No. 1 Truckee at 4 p.m. Friday. For the girls, South No. 2 Pahrump Valley (7-9-2) meets North No. 1 Truckee at 6 p.m. Friday.