It was hugs all around for Lincoln Pius X, which kept its hopes going of the program's first state championship since 2005 by shutting out rival Norris.

NICK RUBEK

WorldHerald Staff Writer

Lightning only had to strike once Saturday afternoon at Morrison Stadium for Lincoln Pius X to get back to the final.

The Class B No. 2 Thunderbolts got a second-half goal from Tatum Heimes and made it stand for a 1-0 victory over 10th-ranked Norris in the girls semifinal.

It puts Pius into Monday's 5:30 championship against defending champ Gretna East.

After a Class A runner-up finish a year ago, the 'Bolts are one win away from the program's first state title in 20 years.

"This was definitely the goal," Heimes said. "To get back to the state championship, and this time to win it."

The hero Saturday got her seventh of the season in the 53rd minute, scoring on an angled run on the left side of goal before depositing a shot past keeper Braelyn Henkel.

"We talked about it at halftime, just playing that through ball we knew could get past that defensive line," Heimes said.

Thunderbolts coach Steve Andersen wasn't surprised at who was on the end of the winner.

"That's just exactly what she does -- cleans up other people, in the right spot and puts one away, and we're playing Monday night," Andersen said.

Andersen called Heimes a "heck of an athlete." The senior has played in three state tournaments this season -- softball, basketball and soccer.

"I don't know if there's another girl in the state like that," Andersen said. "And she just (epitomizes) everything you want out there from an athlete: constant hustle, smart, team leader. And it showed there."

It was the rare opportunity in the attack for either team on the day -- Pius held a 6-4 advantage in shots.

"We just told our defenders, 'Stay touch tight, don't let them get any big runs and contest everything,' and that's what our girls do well," Andersen said.

Added Heimes: "I think our defense did a great job of clearing the ball and playing it through the mid, and then we could just play it wide."

It was the fifth straight match between the two that was decided by one goal. The past four have been 1-0. Pius has won five in a row in the series.

"It's just the Lincoln/Lancaster County rivalry," Andersen said. "They do not like us, and we reach up and take care of business when we have to and tip the hat afterwards, shake hands. It's nice to take on the Titans. We know we've got a match every time, and it's always good to be on the one side more than the zero side." Norris coach Sam Areman pointed to the physicality of the Thunderbolts in Saturday's win.

"I give them a lot of credit," she said. "They're dangerous attackers and are really good at finding the wide channels, and playing creative, and getting overloads and then finding backside balls.

They did a good job of finding us behind, and we did not have a great answer for that."

Heimes and company now get a second shot at Gretna East -- the Griffins won 3-1 when the teams met in the regular season -- and a state title.