Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Liberty High had its sights set on capping an incredible season with a second Class 3A state title in the past three seasons.

Instead it was Urbandale that put the finishing touches on a brilliant season while snapping a long title drought in the process.

Fourth-ranked Urbandale (14-4) scored the only goal of the match less than seven minutes in and held on for a 1-0 win over second-ranked Liberty High in the 3A title match on Friday evening at Mediacom Stadium in Des Moines.

The championship capped an impressive week for Urbandale that featured three consecutive state tournament wins over top-five ranked opponents.

Urbandale defeated fifth-ranked Spencer in the 3A quarterfinals on Monday and added a 2-1 win over third-ranked Norwalk in Thursday’s semifinal round.

“They are a worthy champion,” Liberty High coach Matt Harding said. “They played a stacked schedule this year. They had a one goal loss to (4A finalist West Des Moines) Valley and they beat (4A finalist) Johnston 2-0. So as the 3A champion they are one of the top teams in the state.”

Urbandale got all the scoring it needed from sophomore Brice Lumley in the seventh minute.

Lumley got loose inside the box and slipped a shot from the left side that ricocheted off the right post and rolled in.

The early goal stood up as Urbandale posted its seventh shutout of the season on its way to its third state title and first since 2002.

“Full credit to Urbandale,” Harding said. “They had a game play they executed they took advantage of what was in front of them and they put the ball in the back of the net. They are dangerous.”

Second-ranked Liberty High (13-6-2) was making its second title game appearance in the past three seasons after winning the 3A crown in 2023.

The Lightning had their opportunities to claim a second title in three seasons on Friday but couldn’t quite convert.

“We found a couple of opportunities that were close we just didn’t put the ball in the back of the net,” Harding said. “I am so proud of my guys, we battled all the way to end. Anybody that I put out there tonight was all in for me and I appreciate that.”

Liberty High leading scorer Japhet Bongo had a ball bounce off the post and out of bounds after beating a defender to the endline in 31^st minute.

Trailing 1-0 at the half the Lightning had several chances to pull even late.

Several Liberty High players had a touch on loose ball in front of the net with 2:13 remaining before Urbandale keeper Blake Bullerman was able to corral.

Senior Finn O’Toole had a free kick from 40 yards out sail just high with 70 seconds remaining.

It was kind of what we expected kind of looking at stats from some of their games,” Harding said. “They are excellent at pouncing on mistakes and we made a mistake early that they took advantage.”

Three Liberty High seniors were named to the Class 3A all-tournament team.

Bongo and Roman Riggs were all-tournament picks and senior keeper Conley Sundblad was named 3A keeper of the tournament.

“These guys stuck together and we found a way to play that has been very successful for us,” Harding said.

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