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GRETNA — This year, the objective for the Gretna East girls soccer team was to win the state championship in the program’s first-ever season, and that would require scoring a decent number of goals and winning a lot of matches.
Along the way, an individual milestone came on the radar of Gretna East junior Sonora DeFini — the all-class state record for goals in a season.
So there was something else to go after.
With 10 minutes left in the final match of the season, DeFini scored her 55th goal of the season to break that record and unlock history. It was her second goal of the match during the Griffins’ 6-1 win against Omaha Duchesne in the Class B state championship.
Immediately after the goal, DeFini checked out of the match. A tournament official retrieved the ball and gave it to her.
That capped a dominant postseason when she scored 21 goals over six matches of district and state competition.
Earlier in the season is when the record — previously 54 held by Katie Hobbs from Platteview in 1998 — appeared on her radar.
“I was at 30 or 40 goals and (teammate) Kendall Dobberstein and her family — they’re always looking at the stats — and she was like, ‘Sonora, the goals record is 54; you got to beat it,’” DeFini said.
DeFini was happy to do so and add to a memorable first season for the team.
“It’s pretty cool being able to break that record, but obviously it was a team effort,” DeFini said. “I worked pretty hard for it, and it was pretty cool.”
DeFini went from scoring 18 goals last season to 55 this year.
Journal Star Super-State captains — Gretna’s Maguire Perkins (left) and Gretna East’s Sonora DeFini — stand for a portrait on Thursday at Gretna East High School.
DeFini is the captain of the Lincoln Journal Star girls Super-State soccer team. The captain of the boys Super-State team is Gretna senior Maguire Perkins.
The all-state teams were chosen after receiving nomination ballots from 88 coaches across the state, as well as the observations of Journal Star reporters.
Soccer families are common in Nebraska, and this year’s all-state teams are another reminder of that. Perkins’ brother, Brett, was the Super-State captain in 2022 after helping Gretna win the state championship that season.
But the DeFini family’s ties to soccer are next level. DeFini’s dad, Keith, was a first-team All-American at Creighton.
It’s all girls in the DeFini family and the first three are each either playing or planning to play college soccer at the NCAA Division I level. Savannah plays at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville; London (a senior for Gretna this season) will play at Lipscomb in the fall and Sonora is committed to Oklahoma State.
The three sisters were each on the same high school team for one season in 2022 when Gretna won the state championship with three DeFinis in the starting lineup.
Their mom was also a college athlete. Formerly Nicole Duval, she competed for the Nebraska women’s gymnastics teams in the 1990s, earning all-conference honors. She went to high school at Lincoln Christian.
While many families go to Nebraska football games together, the DeFinis were regulars at Creighton soccer matches.
“Oh, all the time. Every single game,” DeFini said.
Super-State girls soccer captain Sonora DeFini stands for a portrait on Thursday at Gretna East High School.
The family has a soccer goal at home, and shooting with friends and family is common.
Gianna, the youngest sister, will be a freshman on the soccer team at Gretna East next season.
While several of the top soccer players in the state only play that sport in high school, DeFini also plays basketball. She was the second-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder for a team that reached the state semifinals in March.
Basketball helps explain why the favorite goals for DeFini to score are on headers — about 10 of her goals this season came that way.
DeFini is committed to play in college at Oklahoma State. She also visited Creighton and Missouri State.
“They reached out June 15,” DeFini said. “And honestly, Oklahoma State was definitely not one of my schools. But they reached out and I was very convinced. I loved my visit there.”
While Gretna East began the season with a lot of talent on its roster, it was still a significant accomplishment to win a state championship in the first year.
“A lot of those girls were not on varsity until this year. It was pretty cool to see them step up,” DeFini said.
What’s impressive about the 55 goals is that it came while Gretna East played a schedule of all Class A competition before the postseason. And DeFini was excellent in the state tournament with nine goals.
Gretna East coach Chace Hutchison said it’s great to watch when DeFini combines her skill, athleticism and determination to score.
“Those goals where she’s able to take on two or three defenders are very impressive because of her awareness of how to use her body, and then the acceleration that she has to be able to fight off those defenders,” Hutchison said. “She has the full tool set when it comes to goal scoring, and any time she gets on the ball, you get pretty excited.”
It’s also interesting for Hutchison to see how DeFini changes when it’s time for a match.
“She’s very quiet off the field, but then when she gets on it, it kind of turns into a different persona,” he said. “She wants that ball, and she wants it in the back of the net.”
Super-State boys soccer captain Maguire Perkins of Gretna takes a shot at the goal Thursday at Gretna East High School.
Perkins, the Gretna senior, was on the varsity soccer team all four years and had an impressive final season with 27 goals and 10 assists.
He’ll join his brother on the Omaha soccer team in the fall, and they’ll begin doing some training together this week. This summer he’ll go to California to play in a national tournament with his club soccer team for the final time.
Carter Novosad (center) holds a Lincoln Southwest flag above his head while walking to his seat before the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha. Carter’s brother is Lincoln Southwest player Tanner Novosad.
Jayson Ah, 9, of Lincoln, rests on the railing before the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship between Creighton Prep and Lincoln Southwest on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest and Creighton Prep play the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Tanner Novosad (left) breaks up a pass to Creighton Prep’s Timothy Dowd (17) during the first half of the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Creighton Prep’s Brody Brakke (8) attempts to steal the ball away from Lincoln Southwest’s Ashton Gazga (23) during the first half of the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Dylan Beiermann (center) secures the ball after a goal attempt by Creighton Prep during the first half of the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Mabast Alawdi (left) and Creighton Prep’s Sean Stratman (right) chase after the ball during the Class A state championship on Tuesday at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Creighton Prep’s student section cheers after scoring the third goal during the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship game against Lincoln Southwest on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Miguel Solano Rodriguez (center) reacts after Creighton Prep won the Class A state championship on Tuesday at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest head coach Derek Scheich watches during the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship against Creighton Prep on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Mabast Alawdi (left) and Creighton Prep’s Sean Stratman (10) battle for the ball during the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on May 14 at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s student section reacts to a call against their team during the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship against Creighton Prep on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Oscar Tapia Montes De Oca (5) reacts after Creighton Prep won the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha. Creighton Prep won 3-1.
Lincoln Southwest’s Gavin Weiland (19) reacts after Creighton Prep won the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha. Creighton Prep won 3-1.
Lincoln Southwest’s Tanner Novosad (left) and Lincoln Southwest’s Miguel Solano Rodriguez (7) react after Creighton Prep won the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha. Creighton Prep won 3-1.
Creighton Prep’s Brody Brakke (8) attempts to steal the ball away from Lincoln Southwest’s Ashton Gazga (23) during the first half of the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Creighton Prep’s Sean Stratman (left) and Lincoln Southwest’s Gavin Weiland (right) vie for the ball during the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Miguel Solano Rodriguez (7) reacts after Creighton Prep’s Brody Brakke (8) stole the ball from him during the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Dean Perrin (18) takes a ball to the face during the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship against Creighton Prep on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Noah Rakowsky (center) reacts after being tripped up Creighton Prep’s Connor Lodes (20) during the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest head coach Derek Scheich pats Lincoln Southwest’s Tanner Novosad (right) on the shoulder during the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship against Creighton Prep on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Will Bouckaert, 7, watches the Class A boys state soccer tournament championship between Lincoln Southwest and Creighton Prep on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Reach Brent C. Wagner at bwagner@journalstar.com or 402-473-7435.
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Gretna East junior Sonora De Fini set the all-class state record for goals in a season as the Griffins dominated their way to a title.
Last year at this time Chace Hutchison was a soccer journalist. Now’s he at the controls of one of the premier programs in the state.
Journal Star Super-State captains — Gretna’s Maguire Perkins (left) and Gretna East’s Sonora DeFini — stand for a portrait on Thursday at Gretna East High School.
Super-State girls soccer captain Sonora DeFini stands for a portrait on Thursday at Gretna East High School.
Super-State boys soccer captain Maguire Perkins of Gretna takes a shot at the goal Thursday at Gretna East High School.
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