Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

April is here and that means the start of soccer season.

The first day of competition for teams across the state is Thursday with area teams getting into the action this weekend.

It has been a long wait for soccer programs in Iowa.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of spring sports last season creating a year-long gap without prep soccer.

Once again, the Your Prep Sports area will feature some of the top teams and premier players in the state.

Before the season gets rolling here is a look at some Your Prep Sports area players to watch.

Alec Wick

Senior, Regina

One of the most dynamic playmakers in the state, Wick has 45 and 14 assists and a pair of Class 1A state titles in his first two prep seasons.

A two-time 1A all-state selection, Wick led Regina to back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019 and is coming off a sophomore season in which he scored 30 goals and added 11 assists in 24 matches.

Yulong Shao

Senior, West High

A second team all-Mississippi Valley Conference divisional pick as a sophomore in 2019 expect Shao to be the leader of an always stingy West High back line.

Shao had a pair of assists while establishing himself as one of the top defenders in the state two seasons ago.

Edvin Cifuentes

Junior, City High

Looking for a breakthrough candidate in 2021? Look no further than Cifuentes who showed signs of being a dangerous attacker up top during his freshman season in 2019.

Cifuentes is the top returning scorer for the Little Hawks after scoring three goals as a freshman and should see that number skyrocket even in what expects to be a balanced City High attack.

Peyton Miller

Junior, West Branch

West Branch hit the ground running in 2019, going 7-5 in its first season as a varsity program and Miller was a big reason for the early success.

Miller led West Branch in goals and tied for the team lead in assists as a freshman scoring seven goals and adding five assists.

Gabe Yetley

Senior, Solon

Of the 10 players that combined to score 65 goals for the Spartans in 2019 only two return this season in Yetley and junior William Wittich.

Such is the case for many teams with the loss of last season, fortunately for the Spartans both showed they are capable of making plays in the final third.

Yetley had five goals and ranked second on the team with seven assists in 2019 and will be expected to do even more this season.

Jackson Rosenberg

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

An honorable mention all-WAMAC West Division selection as a sophomore in 2019 Rosenberg will be the leader of the Clipper back line from his center back spot.

Experience makes Rosenberg a natural leader in the back for the Clippers and combined with his ball skills and athleticism make him one of the conference’s best defenders.

Marko Migambi

Senior, West High

The offensive equivalent to Shao in the back row Migambi provides West High with an electric scoring threat up top.

Migambi was a second-team MVC all-division pick in 2019 when he ranked third on the team with 10 goals and five assists while helping West High to an 18-2 record.

Matthew Brown

Junior, City High

Playing time early in a career always provides an experience advantage later but with the lost season last spring the minutes that Brown and Cifuentes saw as freshman becomes invaluable.

Brown saw extensive playing time two seasons ago as a freshman and will provide leadership as well as aggressiveness for City High this season.

William Wittich

Junior, Solon

Wittich got valuable varsity minutes as a freshman in 2019 helping Solon to a 15-7 record and a spot in the substate finals.

Two seasons ago as a freshman Wittich netted two goals and added three assists and should see those numbers grow this season.

Kolby Godbolt

Senior, West High

Godbolt will look to make a big impact in his lone season at West High after a spending his first two seasons at Liberty High and missing last season due to the pandemic.

The senior is dynamic with the ball at his feet and the evidence is his team-leading 17 goals and 13 assists as a sophomore in 2019.

Eddie Garces

Senior, City High

Garces played 160 minutes in goal making three saves as a sophomore in 2019 and will look to take over the full-time goalkeeping duties this spring.

Always one of the toughest defensive teams in Class 3A, Garces will look to help City High continue to be one of the most difficult teams in the state to score against.

Ben George

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

The top returning goal scorer from the Clippers 2019 team that posted a 12-4 record, George will look to build off the experience he gained as an underclassman.

George scored three goals and added an assist as a sophomore and returns as one the Clippers’ main offensive weapons from his forward spot.

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