Prep roundup: Chaparral soccer tops in state

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Nov. 12, 2001 | 10:47 a.m.

An eight-hour bus ride can try anyone's patience, but Chaparral boys soccer coach Dan Schell didn't mind making the trek from Reno to Las Vegas on Sunday.

In fact, he rather enjoyed spending some extra time with a club that captured the 4A state title with a pair of victories over the weekend.

"We had a very special group of kids, and it was a great experience riding back with them after what they accomplished," Schell said. "Our kids worked for everything they got."

The Cowboys (19-1-1) earned their spot in the title game with a 3-0 victory over northern champion Reno on Friday, getting two early goals from Daniel Nilsmo and shutting the Huskies down from there.

On Saturday, Chaparral finished the job with a 5-3 win over previously unbeaten Bishop Gorman (16-1-1). Nilsmo, a Swedish exchange student, scored two more goals to lead the charge, and Omar Bywaters added a goal and three assists in the victory.

"It was definitely a showcase of the two best teams in the state," Schell said. "I knew it would be a tough game, a shootout."

The Cowboys built a 4-1 halftime lead before the Gaels cut the deficit to one goal behind scores from brothers Joe and Mike Zaher. But with Gorman searching for the equalizer, Nilsmo found the net late in the game to put it out of reach.

But after ousting the Tigers, 17-15, 12-15, 15-6, 15-6 in the semifinals, the Gators remained focused, waiting until Saturday's 15-6, 15-8, 15-7 win over rival Silverado in the championship match to celebrate their 4A state title.

"To have been bumped out the last three years by northern teams, we were extremely happy to send (Douglas) packing," Green Valley coach Erin Hill said. "But we knew that Silverado was going to come out ready to play."

Hill's squad had defeated the Skyhawks three times this season, including last week's Sunrise Region title match, prior to Saturday, but she said her club was not overconfident.

"We talked about the fact that last week was last week and now was now," Hill said. "And we reminded them that in 1993, we lost to Cheyenne seven times before we beat them at state."

Hill said the championship win was particularly meaningful for her squad's four seniors and its senior manager, particularly senior starters Sydney Venable and Krysta Lahr.