Your Prep Sports

Solon secured a spot in the state tournament on Saturday and the Spartans did so in familiar fashion.

Fourth-ranked Solon posted its fifth straight shutout and 15th of the season in the Substate 4 title game on Saturday, a 1-0 blanking of Columbus at Spartan Field.

Solon improved to 16-5 with the win and returns to the state tournament for the first time since finishing runner-up in 1A in 2012.

Isaac Vang scored a goal in the 45th minute and Solon never let Columbus (11-6) pull even.

Columbus entered the match ranked second in Class 1A with 71 goals on the season but couldn’t find the net against Solon and keeper Eric Weetman.

Solon will face third-ranked Regina (13-5) in the opening round of the Class 1A state tournament on Thursday at 12:10 p.m. at Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines.

The Regals advanced to state for the 10th straight season with a 4-0 win over No. 15 Williamsburg on Saturday and defeated Solon 1-0 on penalty kicks earlier this season.

Clear Creek Amana Falls 1-0 At Marion

Clear Creek Amana avenged a regular season loss to reach the Class 2A Substate 4 final.

The Clippers couldn’t avenge a second regular season loss on Saturday and came up one win shy of a state tournament berth.

Josiah Smith scored the lone goal of the match off a Dylan Morahan assist as No. 16 Marion edged Clear Creek Amana 1-0 at Marion High School.

Marion improved to 11-4 with the win and advanced to the state tournament for the first time in program history while Clear Creek Amana closed the season at 11-7.

The loss snapped a three-match winning streak for the Clippers which included a 3-0 win over Maquoketa in the substate semifinal on Wednesday.