ELKHORN, Neb. - St. Albert fought to a second-place finish Saturday in the four-team tournament hosted by Elkhorn Mount Michael, Nebraska's defending Class B state champion.

The Falcons shut out Grand Island Central Catholic 4-0. It was keeper Cameron Tucker's fifth shutout of the season.

"We dominated play for the whole game," Falcon coach Tom Lorkovic said. St. Albert out-shot Grand Island Central 21 to five on goal.

"It was also one of our better defensive efforts," coach Lorkovic said. "We attacked really well and got our win in the first game of the tournament."

Bryce Kinard scored on a PK 17 minutes into the match for the only score of the first half.

In the second half, Jake McGruder took over as keeper for St. Albert. Kinard added another goal to his tally along with two assists. Cody Sullivan and Jon Recher each contributed goals of their own for a final score of 4-0.

It was a breakout game for sophomore sweeper Nate Kruse.

"He did a nice job," Lorkovic said.

The coach also praised stopper Jacob Dew, Mike Hoffmann and Jon Recher for their contributions in pulling out the win.

Mount Michael downed Omaha's Brownell-Talbott 7-3 in the other first-round match.

Brownell-Talbott claimed a third-place finish in the tournament Saturday with a 2-1 second-round win over Grand Island Central Catholic.

In the title match, Mount Michael won its own tournament with a 3-1 win over St. Albert.

"We made two mistakes in the first half," coach Lorkovic said, "a couple of missed hits in the box."

"We outshot them and had more corner kicks, but we couldn't win the match," he said.

Mount Michael scored first. St. Albert's Cody Sullivan answered with the Falcons' only goal. And Mount Michael scored again, pushing the score to 2-1 with seven minutes left in the first half.

Mount Michael scored an insurance goal in second half lock up the 3-1 finish.

It was St. Albert's fourth game in three days.

The Falcons play Abraham Lincoln at 5:30 p.m. today at the Council Bluffs Recreational Complex.

Grand Island Central 0 0 - 0

St. Albert 1 3 - 4

* * * * *

Elkhorn Mount Michael 2 1 - 3

St. Albert 1 0 - 1

Records: St. Albert (6-5).

©Daily Nonpareil 2006