Gretna East girls soccer beats Gretna, 4-3, in first-ever meeting between programs

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - It was more than a match between new crosstown rivals Gretna and Gretna East for a spot in the Metro Conference tournament championship. It was a battle between former teammates, coaches, and family.

Of the 18 returning players from the Dragon’s 2023 Class A state championship squad, six of them are sporting Griffins jerseys this season.

Former Gretna head coach Chace Hutchinson leads the Griffins in their inaugural season.

And sisters London and Sonora Defini are now opponents.

The actual match was just as entertaining as the storylines leading up to kickoff. The Dragons drew first blood.

In the 27th minute, Gretna senior London Difini turned a corner kick into a curling goal, sneaking just inside the left goal post with a little help from the strong wind. Dragons took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Less than a minute into the second half, senior forward Allison Marshall buried a penalty kick to extend the Dragons’ lead to 2-0.

In the 49th minute, junior Kendall Dobberstein got Gretna East on the board, igniting a comeback. Griffins forward Sonora Difini booted the equalizer in the final three minutes of regulation, eventually forcing overtime.

After 20 more minutes of soccer and a goal from each team, the match ends in a shootout with the Griffins winning, 4-3.

Gretna East remains unbeaten and advances to the Metro Conference tournament championship on Monday where they’ll face Marian at 5:30 p.m.

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