Morgan Zabloudil
In a 7-0 win against the Hastings Tigers on Mar. 22, goalie, senior Madelyn Schaffert drop kicks the ball in an attempt to advance play.
The varsity girls soccer goalkeeper, Madelyn Schaffert, has officially made Nebraska history. On April 7, in a 1-0 victory over the No. 1-ranked team in Class A, Lincoln Southwest [8-1], Schaffert recorded her 50th career shutout, breaking the Nebraska all-state record for shutouts in a high school career.
“Halfway through the season last year was when I started to realize that I had a chance at breaking this record,” Schaffert said. “In the moment, I didn’t really think anything of it, but we were able to celebrate it after the game.”
Kylynn Moyer of Millard North set the previous record of 49 from 2010-2013. Schaffert’s milestone not only surpasses a mark that stood for over a decade, but it also does so against top-tier competition.
“Those career records are pretty special because they aren’t about one good game,” Head Coach Chase Hutchinson said. “It’s a four-year accomplishment, especially against great teams that we match up against.”
Schaffert started under Hutchinson’s wing on day one, entering the Gretna High soccer program as a starter her freshman year. Ever since then, she has been a four-year starter.
“Maddie is not only a great player, but she’s a very joyful individual and always has a smile on her face,” Hutchinson said. “She cares deeply about her teammates and really does put the team first and does everything in her power to help us succeed.
Yesterday, the girls added to Shaffert’s record tally as they beat Elkhorn North [6-4] 3-0, bringing their season record to 10-0.
“We try not to make the goalie too busy, but individually for Maddie, she’s not called upon all the time to make the save,” Hutchinson said. “But the great thing about her is that when the time arrives, we know that she is going to make the save.”
Leading up to breaking the record, Schaffert spent numerous hours every week playing and training soccer since she was a little kid. After high school, Schaffert plans to further her soccer and goalie career at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
“I chose Kearney because all of the girls on the team were nice and inviting,” she said. “The coaches have great energy, which will force me to be a better player.”
And while Schaffert has had 51 career shoutouts, her high school soccer career isn’t over yet, and she will have several opportunities to increase that record. Her first shot of doing so will be when the girls play in the Eastern Midlands Conference Tournament April 21-22. After that, they are scheduled to play two more regular-season games: Northwest Wolves [4-0] of Waukee, Iowa, on April 26 and Bennington [7-3] on April 29, which will be followed by Sub-Districts (May 3, 5-6) and District Finals (May 10).
Currently having a record of 11-0, it is likely that the Griffins will find themselves at Morrison Stadium starting May 14 to defend their 2024 State Championship title, which will give Schaffert even more opportunities to raise the bar even higher when it comes to shut-out records as her high school career comes to a close.