Under the fading light, the soccer team is gathered near midfield, some with hands on their heads, others sprinting toward their goalie. The scoreboard told a simple story No. 10 over No. 1 but the emotions behind it ran deeper, the Monarchs toppled their cross-town rivals, in a match that felt as intense as any postseason clash.

For junior goalkeeper Zack Carlson, who has quietly anchored the Monarchs all season with an average of 5.5 saves per game, the moment carried both validation and belief. 

“This win means so much for our team,” Carlson said. “Because it shows that we belong with all the top teams in the state.” 

That same urgency resonated with senior Malachi Emeish, who experienced the rivalry from a different perspective, one shaped by years of coming up short.

“It means a lot considering it’s my first time beating them while I have played soccer here,” Emeish said. “It means a lot to the team because we always had belief that this year would be special and we have crossed off another checkbox.” 

Friday’s result marked a breakthrough. The Monarchs embraced their role coming in, leaning into the freedom of being overlooked.

“The fact that we can battle through adversity and find a way to beat not just the top team in state,” Carlson said. “ But our rival as well shows how strong our team is all around.”

No matter what, every team will have to overcome adversity and play to the highest level that they’re capable of to do great things. As the regular season closed in, Emeish saw more than just a signature win.

“Knocking off #1 to close out the regular season means we are getting hot at the right time,” Emeish said. “And most definitely have the chance to be playing state soccer.”

The match itself was filled with tense moments, even when the Titans pushed forward, the Monarchs stayed connected and continued to match the energy of the rivalry atmosphere.

“There were times when we made mistakes but we never gave up,” Carlson said.  “We had lots of energy coming into the game and we knew that it was going to be a hard battle no matter what so it was just about keeping our composure and playing together through it all.” 

The rivalry’s intensity also helped elevate the level of play on both sides. Carlson understood that the game against the Titans always demands more physically and mentally, and every player would need to contribute.

“Playing against the Titans is always an exciting game because of how fast and physical it can get,” Carlson said. “It makes everyone want to contribute and play the best they can.”

Emeish understood exactly what was needed to pull of the upset entering as the underdog allowed the team to play freely without any pressure and putting all the pressure on the state’s top-ranked team.

“The team knew what it took to pull off this upset, we knew the pressure was on them,” Emeish said. “We came in as the underdog so just give 110% and see what happens from there.” 

For Papillion-La Vista, the victory wasn’t just about a single night, it was about momentum, belief, and timing. In a rivalry where intensity is guaranteed and outcomes are never, the Monarchs found something lasting in the result: proof. And as they walked off the field, not much louder than they arrived but certainly more certain, the message lingered, this season might still have more to say.