By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Ken Dirksen
Bennington’s boys soccer team continued its strong start to the season by winning the Norfolk Invitational tournament over the weekend, improving to 6-1 overall with two impressive victories against competitive Class A opponents.
Head coach Nick Nyman expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress in a competitive Class B landscape. “I feel we are on track and doing well, especially with Class B being as competitive as it is. There aren’t too many easy games and everyone is capable of taking you down if your team is having a bad day or you aren’t on top of your game,” he said. “Coming out of this weekend with two wins over two good Class A teams is also great! Norfolk had just beaten a tough Lincoln Southwest team and SSC is never an easy team to edge past with a win.”
In the tournament opener against Norfolk, Bennington jumped to a 2-1 halftime lead and pulled away for a 4-1 victory. The Badgers showcased a balanced attack, with Kade Olbrich scoring two goals, while Krish Muktan and Zander Hanish each added one. Tyson Hunter, Declan Smith, and Kade Olbrich all contributed assists to those goals. Bennington’s offensive depth was evident as they outscored Norfolk 2-0 in the second half.
The team then faced South Sioux City in a thrilling championship matchup that ended 3-3 before Bennington prevailed 3-2 in a penalty shootout. Kade Olbrich and Trenton Hunter contributed goals with Tyson Hunter on the assists. With South Sioux City leading 2-1 at halftime, Bennington mounted a resilient comeback after trailing early, equalizing late in regulation to force the decisive shootout, where they scored 3 points to take the win.
Coach Nyman highlighted the squad’s composure and teamwork throughout the weekend. “You never know what you will get with a grass field but I felt the focus was good and you could see it in our ball movement and production in the attacking third. When we went down 0-2 in the second game they didn’t implode but came together to climb back into the game, and again after drawing even just to go down 3-2 late in the game.”
He added praise for the team’s mental toughness in the final: “It’s always great to see your team fight until the end and not fall apart under the pressure,” he said. “It’s even better to see them rewarded with the equalizer late in the last minute of the match. Had we lost in penalties it would have still been an epic effort. Fortunately for us we nailed the shootout, conceding only 1 shot out of 4 shooters.”
As state runners-up from the previous season, Bennington enters the year with high aspirations. “The team always wants to compete at the toughest stage and that is against an opponent in the Class B final championship game,” Nyman said. “A tournament like the Norfolk Invitational is a great chance for our guys to go out there and compete and find out what they are made of. It’s a chance for them to be placed in an adverse situation and to figure it out as a team. This time around it wasn’t overcoming a disappointing performance or a loss, but finding a way to battle back after giving up an early lead to a good team.”
The victories not only boosted the team’s record but also their confidence heading into the heart of the season. Bennington’s ability to execute under pressure, maintain focus on a grass field, and respond collectively sets a positive tone as they aim for another deep postseason run.
