Bennington Boys Soccer Season Ends in State Quarterfinal Heartbreaker Against Lexington

2–3 minutes

By Marisa Dawson

A dramatic moment during a soccer match, with players from both teams jumping to head the ball near the goal, under stadium lights.

The Bennington Badgers saw their strong season come to an end last Thursday night at Morrison Stadium, falling 2-1 to Lexington in the NSAA Class B state quarterfinals.

Kade Olbrich gave Bennington a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute with his 27th goal of the season, assisted by Declan Smith. The senior forward’s strike sent the Badgers into halftime with momentum, but Lexington responded with two second-half goals to complete the comeback and advance. Goalkeeper Aaden Lee played the entire 80 minutes, making four saves during the game.

A soccer player in a blue uniform dribbling the ball on a green field, with a player in a white uniform sprinting to defend.
Kade Olbrich
A female soccer goalkeeper in a pink uniform is diving to catch the ball during a game, with spectators seated in the background.
Aaden Lee

Despite the loss, which dropped Bennington to 13-4 on the year, head coach Nick Nyman reflected positively on his team’s journey. “It’s fun watching these guys come together as a team and build throughout the season, overcoming obstacles as they went,” Nyman said. “It wasn’t an easy season, and they stuck with it.”

He acknowledged the quarterfinal wasn’t Bennington’s strongest performance, saying, “Unfortunately, we fell a little short tonight. Nothing to be ashamed of and by far, by no means our best game we’ve ever played. We definitely have done better.” However, he continued to emphasize, “They went out and played. It just didn’t work out for us.”

For the senior class, including standout scorer Olbrich, Nyman emphasized the lifelong value of the sport. “I have fun with this. Soccer is something that will be there for the rest of your life. It doesn’t stop when you graduate,” he told them. “It’s something they can take throughout their career, whether it’s at college, intramurals, club… it doesn’t matter. They can continue to build on their skill set and have fun with it.” Lightheartedly, he added, “If anything, it gets more fun the older you get!” 

A young soccer player in a black uniform kicking a soccer ball on a field, while another player in a white uniform runs nearby.
Declan Smith
Two youth soccer players competing for the ball, one player in a white jersey is falling to the ground while the other in a black jersey is attempting to tackle.
Max Leight

Looking ahead to the returning players for next year, Nyman expressed optimism. “Next year is a new year. There is a lot of potential still on this team. I think they have a lot of chances for success. If they believe in themselves. I think they’ll definitely have a chance to get back here again and show what they can do.”

Bennington’s run to the state tournament highlighted a successful campaign built on resilience and team growth. Though the final match didn’t go their way, the Badgers can hold their heads high after a competitive showing against a tough Lexington opponent.

The program now turns its focus to next season, where returning talent and lessons from this year’s obstacles should position them for another strong push.

A soccer team in black uniforms huddles together on the field, preparing for a game, while another team in white uniforms stands in the background.
A soccer player in a black uniform kicks a soccer ball on a green field while another player is in the background, and a few spectators are seated on the sidelines.
A soccer goalkeeper in a pink uniform is about to kick a ball away, while an opposing player in white is positioned to the side. In the background, spectators are watching the game on a grassy hillside.
A youth soccer player in a black jersey dribbles a soccer ball on a grassy field during a match, with a referee in a green uniform nearby and spectators in the background.
A soccer match in progress, featuring players in black and white uniforms competing for the ball. One player is jumping to head the ball while another is positioned on the ground. The stands are filled with spectators watching the game.
A soccer player in a blue uniform jumps to head the ball while an opponent in a white uniform attempts to defend.
A group of young soccer players celebrates a goal on the field, surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd cheering in the stands.
A young male soccer player performing a throw-in during a match, with fans seated on bleachers in the background.
A soccer player in a black uniform is kicking a soccer ball on a green field during a match, with spectators in the background.
A soccer player in a black jersey executes a kick on the field with an outstretched leg, while spectators watch in the background.
A soccer match in action, featuring players in black and white uniforms. One player in black is dribbling the ball while another in white attempts to steal it. In the background, other players are positioned ready for play.
A soccer match in progress, featuring two players competing for the ball. One player in a white uniform, number 27, is sprinting towards the ball, while the other player in a black uniform is reaching for it. The backdrop includes spectators in a stadium setting.
A soccer player in a black uniform prepares to kick a ball on a field, with spectators in the background watching the game.
A soccer player in a black uniform with the number 7 kicks a ball on a green field, while two opposing players in white uniforms, one with the number 27, look on.
A youth soccer match in progress, featuring players in white and black jerseys competing for the ball on a green turf field.
A young soccer player in a black uniform kicks a soccer ball on the field while another player in a white uniform watches.
A youth soccer team sits in a circle on the field, listening to their coach who stands among them. In the background, a large crowd fills the stadium stands, with many fans dressed in blue and white.
A soccer player in a black jersey kicks the ball while being closely pursued by an opponent in a white jersey on a green field.
Two young soccer players competing for the ball on a grassy field during a game, with spectators seated in the background.
A soccer player in a black uniform dribbles the ball on a green field, while an opposing player in a white uniform closely follows behind.
A soccer match in progress with players wearing black and white uniforms. One player in white is trying to gain control of the ball as he is challenged by two players in black. A crowd is visible in the background, cheering and watching the game.
A young male soccer player dribbles a ball on a well-maintained grass field during a night practice.
A young soccer player in black and blue uniform dribbles a soccer ball on a turf field, with teammates and a goalkeeper in the background.
A soccer match in progress featuring two players competing for the ball on a synthetic field. One player in black is attempting to maintain possession while another in white is challenging for it. Spectators can be seen in the background.
A soccer match in progress with two players in action; one in a black jersey with the number 8 and a captain's armband chasing a soccer ball, while a player in a white jersey tries to regain possession. Another player in a black jersey is observing the play in the background.
A male soccer player in a black jersey dribbles the ball on a field while another player in a white jersey approaches from the left.
A goalkeeper in a pink uniform catches a soccer ball during a game, with players from both teams in the background and a sponsorship banner visible.
A male soccer player in a black jersey with blue accents kicks a soccer ball during a game on a green field, with advertisements visible in the background.
A high school soccer game scene showing players in action on the field. A player in a white uniform is attempting to take the ball from an opponent in a dark uniform. Spectators are visible in the background.
A soccer player in a black jersey with the number 10 is about to kick a soccer ball on a field, while another player in a white jersey approaches from the left. In the background, spectators and coaches watch the game.

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