"It was a tale of two halves" is a common sports clich.

But the one time it may actually be appropriate to use is in soccer.

With it being a spring high school sport in Nebraska, teams often have two opponents to deal with per match the opposite team and the wind.

Gusty wind has really had an effect on soccer games over the past two weeks. On fields the run north and south such as the ones at Fonner Park or the one used by the Grand Island Northwest girls games turn into those tales of two halves.

In one, it's a matter of survival when going against the wind. In the other, it's a matter of trying to take advantage of when the wind is to your back.

It can be a challenge, both mentally and physically.

The Grand Island Senior High girls experienced this during a 2-1 shootout win at Norfolk on Tuesday.

"Everybody defensively played well," Islander coach Chuck DeWitt said. "Going against a 40 mile per hour wind, you've got to be on your toes."

Wind is something teams are used to, but it still plays a big factor in games.

"Any more, I expect it," said Grand Island Senior High boys coach Jeremy Jensen. "I'd rather play in rain or snow. The wind can affect the outcome of a game."

How a team fared going either against or with the wind in the first half can be a momentum builder or a momentum buster at halftime.

"Typically I like to go against the wind in the first half," Jensen said. "You work hard in the first half and play your guts out. If it is tied up or if you're up, then you're happy."

With strong winds, sometimes matches come down to a lucky bounce. You never know what might happen in gusty conditions that can give new meaning to 50/50 balls where a kick that sails too high has a 50 percent chance of landing behind the kicker.

Going against the wind is a challenge. Just look at Grand Island Central Catholic's games against Gering and Scottsbluff on Saturday. Ten of the 11 goals scored in the two matches were by the team with the wind to its back.

"The wind definitely dictated the direction of play," GICC co-coach Gary Witmer said.

That's a typical story on soccer fields across Nebraska in the spring.

District soccer sneaking up at end of April

With soccer districts moved up on the calendar this year, the postseason is just around the corner.

Soccer districts kick off on April 28 yes, that's a week from Monday.

Grand Island Senior High is involved in the traditional Class A, District 7 tournament with Columbus, Kearney and North Platte. North Platte will host this year's tournaments at Madison Middle School.

The Grand Island Central Catholic and Northwest boys will compete in the Class B, District 5 tournament at York's Cornerstone Athletic Complex.

Columbus Lakeview, Columbus Scotus, Hastings and York round out the six-team field.

The GINW girls also go to York. With GICC not having a girls team, Seward is the team that rounds out the field on the girls side.

Sermota 8-Man Classic roster announced

The rosters for the 31st annual Sertoma 8-Man Classic have been announced. The annual all-star football clash will be held on June 21 at 1:30 p.m. at Hastings College's Lloyd Wilson Field.

Five area players have been selected to participate this year.

Suiting up for the East team will be High Plains' Derek Rodine and Clete Vrbka, Nebraska Christian's Mike Swanson and Giltner's Thomas Thies.

Palmer's Nic Dukat is the lone area player named to the West squad.

EAST

Jeremy Anderson, Bancroft-Rosalie; Matt Beccard, Lourdes Central; Jonahtan Bos, Clarkson; Eric Brabec, Clarkson; Taylor Baumert, Pawnee City; Kyle Davis, Shickley; Bryce Ebel, Falls City Sacred Heart; Jordan Brummels, Winside; Brent Haith, Johnson Brock; Alex Johnson, Clay Center; Jacob Kreikemeier, Dodge; Jared Larson, Mead; Ben Lammers, Bloomfield; Matt Peter, Winside; Troy Peterson, Lawrence-Nelson; Derek Rodine, High Plains; Bryan Ruzek, Dodge; Mike Swanson, Nebraska Christian; DJ Thiel, Sterling; Thomas Thies, Giltner; Patrick Tyrance, Parkview Christian; Clete Vrbka, High Plains; Kelan Walford, Exeter-Milligan; Lucas Weeder, Lindsay Holy Family.

CoachesKen Swanson, Coleridge, head coach; Jim Dooley, Bloomfield, assistant coach; Eric Kesseler, Humphrey St. Francis, assistant coach.

WEST

Nathan Bacon, Overton; Jeremy Barnes, Cody-Kilgore; Kiefer Burke, Maxwell; Jason Cameron, Chambers; Cody Childers, Leyton; Jake Childres, Leyton; Brett Christensen, Wallace; Tanner Crisp, Mullen; Taylor Dixon, Wauneta-Palisade; Nic Dukat, Palmer; Brad Dvorak, Stuart; Nick Fiene, Elwood; Kyle Giffin, Pleasanton; Jonathan Gunderson, Elgin; Jace Heiden, Bertrand; Tyler Klabenes, Chambers; Brandon Kopf, Overton; Bryson Mahlberg, Elwood; Jay Reicks, Elgin Pope John; Steve Rust, West Boyd; Adam Snyder, Arapahoe; Bret Spanel, Anselmo-Merna; Justin Swedburg, Axtell; Bradley Wright, Ewing.

CoachesDuke Waln, Cody-Kilgore, head coach; Carlie Wells, Elgin, assistant coach; Daren Hatch, Arapahoe, assistant coach.

Destination unknown

The Grand Island baseball team won't know it's postseason destination or potential opponents until Wednesday.

That's when the Class A district seedings take place. This is the first year that districts are determined by using a serpentine method based upon the wild card points.

All schools will be divided into six districts based upon their standings.

Dale Miller is a sports writer for The Independent.