Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The prep soccer season is nearly two months old but the road to the state tournament officially begins on Monday with substate action kicking off in all three classes.

Every team enters play on Monday with the same goal, a spot at Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines for the state tournament that runs from May 30 to June 1.

Before matches kick off on Monday here are a few things to watch as Your Prep Sports area teams begin the journey to a state tournament.

Red-hot West High

West High has made a habit of peaking in the postseason under head coach Brad Stiles.

This season the Trojans have been playing at a postseason level for more than a month.

Second ranked West High (14-1) brings a 14-match winning streak into Class 3A postseason play and has outscored opponents 52-6 during its winning streak.

Since a 1-0 loss to Ankeny Centennial in the season opener West High has been perfect, posting shutouts in nine of its 14 wins.

West High has been especially impressive in May outscoring six opponents 29-3.

West Branch Riding High

The first season in program history has been a tremendous success for West Branch.

In its first season of varsity action the Bears have posted a 7-4 record and can put an exclamation point on year number one with a strong postseason showing.

West Branch opens postseason play on Monday at perennial power Davenport Assumption (6-11) in a Class 1A, Substate 3 quarterfinal.

The longer the season has gone the better the Bears have become.

West Branch has won five of its last six matches, the lone loss during that stretch a 2-1 setback to Class 2A seventh-ranked Hudson that was decided by penalty kicks.

The Bears have found a trio of capable playmakers in Peyton Miller (7 goals, 6 assists), Gage Gingerich (4 goals, 6 assists) and Matt Whaley (five goals) and have gotten strong play from sophomore Cael Fiderlein in goal of late.

How far has West Branch come in year one? The Bears fell to Bellevue Marquette 3-0 back on April 18 and capped a five-match winning streak early this month with a 2-0 win over the Mohawks.

State Tournament Streaks on the Line

For more than a decade some of the best soccer in the entire state has been played in the Your Prep Sports Area.

For evidence of that look no further than the state tournament streaks that area teams will put on the line this week.

Two-time defending 1A champion Regina has the longest active state tournament streak in the state and third longest of all-time at 11 consecutive appearances.

City High isn’t far back from Regina at seven consecutive trips to state which ranks as the longest active streak for a 3A program.

West High had a 15-year state tournament streak end in 2015 but has since started a new streak and is seeking a fourth consecutive trip to state.

No Easy Path For Defending Champs

As always Regina spent the regular season prepping for a postseason run by playing some of the top teams in the state.

The Regals have played five matches against ranked 1A opponents, including two against top-ranked Waterloo Columbus and seven matches against Class 3A competition.

That rugged schedule will continue for second-ranked Regina (12-6) in the postseason.

The two-time defending state champs open postseason play on Monday against winless Cedar Valley Christian but could then face back-to-back ranked opponents for a 12th consecutive trip to state.

Regina could face No. 16 Benton Community (10-7) in the Class 1A, Substate 4 semifinals with seventh-ranked Vinton-Shellsburg (11-5) a possible substate final foe.

Solon’s Shot at Redemption

Last season Solon had its state tournament hopes dashed with a 3-0 home loss to Iowa Mennonite.

If Solon is to return to Des Moines for the second time in three seasons the Spartans may need to turn the tides on IMS in a substate final rematch.

Solon is the top seed in Class 1A, Substate 6and if seeds hold would host second-seeded Iowa Mennonite (9-4) in a substate final for the second year in a row.

In order to earn a rematch with No. 15 IMS the Spartans must first snap a three-match losing skid.

Third-ranked Solon (13-6) struggled to the regular season finish line being outscored 5-1 in three consecutive losses to ranked opponents.

Solon opens postseason play on Monday hosting Centerville (0-15) in a substate quarterfinal and with a win would host the winner of Pella Christian (5-9) and Albia (8-11) in Wednesday’s semifinal.

Second Shot for City High

City High had an eight-match winning streak snapped last week with a 2-0 loss at Cedar Rapids Washington.

The Little Hawks may not need to wait long for rematch.

City High (11-3) is the top seed in Class 3A, Substate 8 and is a win away from a possible rematch with the Warriors in the substate final.

Cedar Rapids Washington (11-5) brings a six-match winning streak into the postseason after back-to-back wins over third-ranked City High and No. 11 Cedar Rapids Prairie.

City High will face the winner of Muscatine and Burlington in a semifinal and would host Washington in a substate final on Saturday if both higher seeds advance.

Unlike the regular season loss to the Warriors City High would have home field advantage on its side in the postseason.

Sort of. City High will play its substate matches at the University of Iowa Soccer Complex.

These Guys Have Game

Fans of offensive execution have plenty of players to keep an eye on when watching Your Prep Sports area teams.

There are six double-digit goal scorers among Your Prep Sports area teams this season and each will attempt to add to their goal totals over the next week.

Regina sophomore Alec Wick is the top area scorer with 22 goals while Liberty High and Solon each have a pair of players with at least 10 goals.

Solon seniors Jorel Justus (13 goals) and Luke Yetley (10 goals) are both in double figures as are the dynamic Liberty High duo of Kolby Godbolt (13 goals) and Avi Ajavon (11 goals)

West High junior Brody Schilling leads the Trojans with 11 goals.