Breaking Down the Area Boys Soccer Substate Finals
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The goal for every team is to end its season at the state tournament.
On Saturday 24 teams will check that goal off the list.
State tournament bids will be secured Saturday with substate finals in all three classes being contested across the state.
Five Your Prep Sports area teams are in action on Saturday in three different classes with every hoping to secure a spot at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines for the state tournament that runs from May 31st to June 2.
Before substate action kicks off we take a closer look at the matchups for area teams.
Class 3A, Substate 6
Cedar Rapids Jefferson (9-5-1) at No. 2 West High (15-1)
When: Saturday, Noon
Where: Barker Field at West High
Player to watch: West High junior Brody Schilling has a team-high 12 goals and has been at his best late in the season scoring 10 goals in the last seven matches.
Breakdown: West High is seeking a fourth consecutive trip to the state tournament after falling in the state semifinals last season.
The Trojans have rattled off 15 consecutive wins since a season-opening loss to Ankeny Centennial including a 7-0 win over Davenport Central in the substate semifinals on Wednesday.
West High has posted shutouts in five of its last six matches while outscoring foes 30-1 during that stretch.
The only team to score on the Trojans during that stretch was Jefferson in a 2-1 loss to West High on May 14 in Cedar Rapids.
Jefferson won back-to-back postseason matches over Davenport West and North Scott to reach the substate final.
Senior Blake Bouzek and sophomore Paul Mwilarhe lead the J-Hawks with eight goals, while Bouzek ranks fifth in Class 3A with 15 assists.
Class 3A, Substate 8
No. 11 Cedar Rapids Washington (12-5) at No. 7 City High (12-3)
When: Saturday, Noon
Where: University of Iowa Soccer Complex
Player to watch: Cedar Rapids Washington senior Keaton Woods is an explosive scoring weapon up top with 14 goals and seven assists this season and has scored goals in back-to-back matches against City High going back to last season.
Breakdown: The owner of the longest active state tournament streak in Class 3A, City High will look to book an eighth consecutive trip to the state tournament.
To return to Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines the Little Hawks will need to avenge a 2-0 regular season loss to a Cedar Rapids Washington side that enters as one of the hottest teams in Class 3A.
The Warriors have won seven straight matches entering Saturday’s substate final, winning their last six by shutout while outscoring opponents 39-0.
Washington features a dynamic scoring duo in seniors Brooks Papendick and Keaton Woods who have combined for 31 goals this season.
City High snapped a two-match losing skid to end the regular season with a 9-0 win over Muscatine in the substate semifinal.
Class 2A, Substate 5
Liberty High (7-10) at No. 1 CR Xavier (13-2)
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Where: Cedar Rapids Xavier
Player to watch: Sophomore Kolby Godbolt leads Liberty High with 17 goals and 13 assists this season and has four goals and six assists in a pair of postseason wins.
Breakdown: One of the most consistent programs in recent state history takes on the up and comer as Liberty High seeks its first ever state tournament appearance.
A year after falling to Xavier 6-0 in a substate semifinal Liberty High took another step forward advancing to its first substate final where it gets another postseason crack at the perennial power Saints.
Xavier is after an 11th consecutive state tournament appearance after advancing to the 2A semifinals last season.
The Saints defeated Liberty High 7-0 in a regular season meeting back in April and own wins over a trio of 3A ranked teams in Cedar Rapids Prairie, City High and Cedar Rapids Washington.
Liberty High lost seven of its final eight matches and four straight to close the regular season with all but one of those coming against 3A competition.
The Lightning rebounded by scoring 13 goals in back-to-back substate wins.
Class 1A, Substate 4
No. 6 South Tama (14-5) at No. 2 Regina (14-6)
When: Saturday, Noon
Where: Regal Field at Regina
Player to watch: South Tama junior Jonathan Castrejon ranks third in the state and second in Class 1A with 40 goals this season and has scored two or more goals in 12 matches.
Breakdown: Since opening the season with back-to-back losses South Tama has won 16 of its final 19 matches with losses to Class 2A second-ranked Marion and 1A top-ranked Waterloo Columbus.
The only other loss for the Trojans during that stretch was a 3-2 setback to eighth-ranked Vinton-Shellsburg that was avenged on Wednesday with a 2-1 double overtime win over the Vikings.
Castrejon has accounted for nearly 70 percent of the South Tama scoring this season with 40 goals and nine assists.
The owner of the longest active state tournament streak in the state, Regina is seeking a 12th straight trip to state.
Regina has won back-to-back Class 1A titles and enters the postseason with four consecutive wins in which it has outscored opponents 15-0.
Of the six loss for Regina, five have come to Class 3A opponents with the other setback coming to 1A top-ranked Waterloo Columbus.
Sophomore Alec Wick leads the Regals and ranks eighth in Class 1A with 26 goals this season and has a team-high 10 assists.
Class 1A, Substate 6
No. 16 Iowa Mennonite (11-4) at No. 7 Solon (15-6)
When: Saturday, Noon
Where: Spartan Stadium at Solon
Player to watch: Iowa Mennonite senior Louis Etienne has a team-high 25 goals and has scored five during the current five-game IMS winning streak.
Breakdown: Solon closed the regular season with three consecutive losses before responding with consecutive postseason shutouts to return to the substate finals.
The Spartans get a shot at redemption after falling 3-0 to Iowa Mennonite in the substate finals last season.
Solon is appearing in a substate final for the third consecutive season and seeking its second state tournament trip in three years.
Senior Jorel Justus leads Solon with 18 goals and nine assists while Luke Yetley has 13 goals for the Spartans.
Iowa Mennonite lost three of five late in the season but has now won three straight after a 1-0 substate semifinal win over Clarke.
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