Faith Lutheran boys, girls swept by Truckee

MESQUITE -- Faith Lutheran's boys soccer team had a wise strategy in the Class 3A state championship game Saturday.

And it worked marvelously until the 69th minute.

The Crusaders' plan was to neutralize Truckee senior Max Brixey by forcing the star midfielder to use his left foot.

Finally, Brixey scored using his left foot to break a scoreless tie and propel Truckee (Calif.) to a 2-0 victory over Faith Lutheran at the Mesquite Sports Complex.

Brixey had six goals and three assists in two state tourney games for the Wolverines (24-1-1), the North's No. 1 seed, who won their second straight Nevada state title and third in four years.

"They were saying I had no left foot or something like that, but I put it in with my left foot," Brixey said. "The goalie slid to the left like I was going to cross it, so I just placed it in the post."

South No. 1 seed Faith Lutheran was outshot 16-4 and suffered its only loss of the season, finishing 16-1-1.

"I knew it would only take one goal to win the game," Crusaders coach Nate Hagge said. "Time kept winding down, and I was hoping we'd be the team to get it in regulation."

Salvador Tejeda scored seven minutes after Brixey for Truckee, which got an assist from Raul Cardenas and a three-save shutout from Ryan Newland.

Marc Davies made 12 saves for Faith Lutheran, which was playing in its first state soccer final. The Crusaders will rise to 4A next season.

GIRLS

• Truckee 5, Faith Lutheran 3 -- The Wolverines (24-2) scored three unanswered goals to take a 5-2 halftime lead and beat the Crusaderes (17-1) for a repeat state title.

Kathryn Dill and Kelsi Decker scored two goals each and Mikaela Arnstein one for Truckee. Stephanie O'Neil had two assists.

"Once one or two goals happened, it kind of almost snowballed," Crusaders coach Dave Elliott said.

Sydney Spoon, Jessica Nelson and Kari Moloney scored for Faith Lutheran, which got assists from Spoon and Maddy Courvoisier. Marissa Fehrman had six saves.

Contact reporter Tristan Aird at taird@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203.