The Schuyler boys soccer team made history on Tuesday, capturing the team’s first state title behind a 56th-minute goal from Richard Delgado.
The Warriors defeated Bennington 2-1 to win the Class B championship at Morrison Stadium, avenging back-to-back playoff losses to the Badgers from the previous two seasons.
Coaches tabbed the Warriors No. 10 in the NebPreps preseason poll, but they shattered those expectations with a 19-2 record in addition to the state title.
Schuyler opened the scoring with a goal from Obed Benazo in the 17th minute, but the badgers responded less than a minute later as Zander Hanish delivered the equalizer. The tie lasted into the second half, until Delgado came forward from the back line to score the game-winner — the first goal of his high school career. The sophomore defender said that the moment felt surreal.
“It felt like I saw stars,” Delgado told NebPreps. “The adrenaline hit me. The team needed me, and I really showed them what I could do, and scored my first career goal and won us the game. It was really amazing.”
The community of Schuyler showed a lot of support for their team, packing the stands for the championship. Delgado said that it meant a lot seeing everyone travel to watch the team.
“It feels great,” Delgado said. “Because back in town, there’s always lots of fans, and seeing them all pop out here — we had almost half of the stadium filled out with our fans, and it was really just great. It really motivated us, and it shows that we care a lot for the sport.”
Name a better state soccer venue than Morrison Stadium.
A packed house for the Class B championship between Schuyler and Bennington. #nebpreps pic.twitter.com/lAUkoGMI70
— nebpreps (@THEnebpreps) May 21, 2025
Confidence is an important factor in helping a team win a game. When Bennington made things close, he said that the team’s will helped them stop the Badgers’ attacks.
“It just came from our heart,” Delgado said. “Because we’ve never really won a state championship.”
With it being their first time winning the championship, he said that it felt really special to accomplish this goal.
“We’re a small town,” Delgado said. “Were known as the underdogs, so for us to win this and take this home, it was a really big moment for us. We just knew we had to take it back home.”
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