Iowa high school girls’ soccer 2021 regionals: Analysis, schedule, state-qualifying picks

The 2021 Iowa high school girls’ soccer postseason got started Monday with a few first-round games, but it really gets going with quarterfinals Wednesday in 1A, then Friday in 2A and 3A.

Here is a quick look at each Gazette area region, plus picks for the state-qualifying banners to be handed out next Friday.

Class 3A Region 4

Top seed: West Des Moines Dowling is ranked fourth in the state and ended the regular season with back-to-back wins over top-10 teams Johnston and Ankeny Centennial, the latter in penalties.

Top challengers: No. 13 Iowa City West has won seven straight since a 6-0 loss to powerhouse Waukee and now hosts No. 9 Des Moines Roosevelt and 3A top scorer Sarah Fleming (38 goals) in the regional semifinals.

My state-qualifying pick: West Des Moines Dowling

Friday’s quarterfinal game

Des Moines East (5-12) at Southeast Polk (4-10), 6 p.m.

Class 3A Region 5

Top seed: Waukee was the 2019 Class 3A runner-up and enters the 2021 postseason ranked No. 3 in its final year before the district splits into two high schools.

Top challengers: After a 1-3 start, Iowa City High won eight of its last nine and is ranked No. 15. The Little Hawks’ semifinal opponent is Cedar Rapids Kennedy. The Cougars scored 47 goals in eight wins, but two in six losses.

My state-qualifying pick: Waukee

Friday’s quarterfinal game

Cedar Rapids Jefferson (0-12) at Cedar Rapids Prairie (3-8), 6 p.m.

Class 3A Region 7

Top seed: No. 6 Linn-Mar is among the state championship contenders, its only losses being 1-0 to No. 2 Pleasant Valley and in penalties to No. 3 Waukee. The Lions outscored opponents 83-2 in the regular season and haven’t allowed a goal since April 17.

Top challengers: No. 11 Muscatine finished a game behind PV and Bettendorf at 7-2 in the Mississippi Athletic Conference and beat the Bulldogs twice.

My state-qualifying pick: Linn-Mar

Friday’s regional quarterfinal game

Davenport West (1-10) at Cedar Rapids Washington (4-10), 4 p.m.

Other 3A state-qualifying picks

Region 1: No. 7 Council Bluffs Lincoln

Region 2: No. 8 Ankeny

Region 3: No. 1 West Des Moines Valley

Region 6: No. 5 Ankeny Centennial

Region 8: No. 2 Pleasant Valley

Class 2A Region 5

Top seed: No. 7 Dallas Center-Grimes is 10-5, but all five losses have come by one goal to either ranked or Class 3A teams.

Top challengers: Clear Creek Amana earned the distinction of last undefeated team in The Gazette area when it improved to 11-0 with a 2OT win at Mount Vernon. That looked to give Clippers, then ranked No. 5, regional home-field advantage. But they dropped a pair of games to North Scott by a combined 7-0 and were passed by DCG as they fell to No. 9. No. 12 Pella could have a say as well, if it can stay closer than a 3-0 regular-season defeat to DCG.

My state-qualifying pick: Dallas Center-Grimes

Friday’s quarterfinal games

Fairfield (2-11) at Oskaloosa (5-9), 6 p.m.

South Tama (1-14) at No. 12 Pella (12-5), 6 p.m.

Class 2A Region 6

Top seed: Top-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock, the 2A runner-up in 2019, is led by Iowa signee and state scoring leader Kenzie Roling (59 goals). The Go-Hawks have won 13 in a row since falling to 3A powers Centennial and Valley.

Top challengers: At 6-9, Western Dubuque is the No. 2 seed, having gone through the rugged Mississippi Valley Conference schedule. The Bobcats have lost eight in a row.

My state-qualifying pick: Waverly-Shell Rock

Friday’s quarterfinal game

Independence (4-13) at Decorah (8-5), 6 p.m.

Class 2A Region 7

Top seed: Reigning state champion Cedar Rapids Xavier has remained No. 8 in the 2A rankings and has been close to a signature win, losing by a goal to WSR and Linn-Mar. The Saints did handle 3A No. 15 City High 4-1 on May 12.

Top challengers: Losing in double-overtime to CCA dropped Mount Vernon, now No. 10, out of the top five in the 2A rankings and into Xavier’s bracket. The Mustangs also lost 1-0 to City High but, led by Maia Bentley’s 45 goals (No. 3 in 2A) and 21 assists (tied for first), have outscored their other opponents 115-4. Marion’s Grace Coates ranks No. 2 in 2A in goals with 48 and the Indians recently won nine straight, but took a 6-0 setback against the Mustangs.

My state-qualifying pick: Cedar Rapids Xavier

Friday’s quarterfinal games

DeWitt Central (6-11) at Clinton (9-6), 6 p.m.

Washington (7-7) at Marion (11-4), 4:30 p.m.

Class 2A Region 8

Top seed: North Scott (11-5) has struggled at times against the top teams on its rigorous MAC schedule, but is No. 6 in the 2A rankings thanks to wins over Xavier (3-2) and CCA (3-0 and 4-0).

Top challengers: At 10-6, Iowa City Liberty is in position for its first winning season. Mount Pleasant won its first eight games and is 9-2 but never cracked the rankings due to its schedule. Burlington Notre Dame beat the Panthers 3-0 last week.

My state-qualifying pick: North Scott

Friday’s quarterfinal games

Fort Madison (7-7) at Burlington (6-9), 6 p.m.

Mount Pleasant (9-2) at Burlington Notre Dame (10-6), 5 p.m.

Other 2A state qualifying picks

Region 1: No. 5 Spencer

Region 2: No. 2 Lewis Central

Region 3: No. 3 Norwalk

Region 4: No. 4 North Polk

Class 1A Region 6

Top seed: No. 3 Waterloo Columbus started 10-0 before losing to a pair of ranked 2A teams. Sophomore Nikayla Youngblut ranks fourth in 1A with 28 goals.

Top challengers: No. 10 Hudson lost 3-1 to Columbus, but that was way back on April 13. Wamac teams Vinton-Shellsburg and Dyersville Beckman also host quarterfinal games; the Blazers have won six straight since a 3-1 loss to the Vikings.

My state-qualifying pick: Waterloo Columbus

Wednesday’s quarterfinal games

Union Community (2-12) at No. 3 Waterloo Columbus (13-2), 5 p.m.

Cedar Valley Christian (5-10) at Dyersville Beckman (8-8), 5 p.m.

Monticello (2-11) at No. 10 Hudson (12-4), 5 p.m.

Center Point-Urbana (8-7) at Vinton-Shellsburg (10-7), 5 p.m.

Class 1A Region 7

Top seed: No. 6 Dubuque Wahlert, the lone 1A team in the MVC, finished with a winning record against conference opponents (6-5).

Top challengers: Iowa City Regina has also faced a challenging schedule but has only beaten one team with a winning record (Mid-Prairie). Bellevue Marquette played Wahlert close on April 15, losing 1-0.

My state-qualifying pick: Dubuque Wahlert

Wednesday’s quarterfinal games

Maquoketa (2-13) at No. 6 Dubuque Wahlert (8-6), 5 p.m.

Tipton (5-8) at Anamosa (4-11), 6 p.m.

West Branch (5-8) at No. 15 Iowa City Regina (7-7), 4:30 p.m.

Northeast (2-11) at Bellevue Marquette (9-3), 5 p.m.

Class 1A Region 8

Top seed: Davenport Assumption has claimed eight of the last nine Class 1A state titles and is ranked No. 1 once again heading into this postseason. The Knights have lost five games, all to ranked 3A and 2A teams.

Top challengers: No. 15 Solon has won seven of its last eight and climbed back in the final rankings.

My state-qualifying pick: Davenport Assumption

Wednesday’s quarterfinal games

Wapello (1-9) at No. 1 Davenport Assumption (11-5), 6 p.m.

West Liberty (4-9) at Mediapolis (3-10-1), 6 p.m.

Central Lee (4-7-1) at Solon (12-5), 6 p.m.

Columbus Community (7-4) at Mid-Prairie (10-5), 6 p.m.

Other 1A state-qualifying picks

Region 1: No. 4 Tri-Center

Region 2: No. 2 Treynor

Region 3: No. 8 Gilbert

Region 4: No. 5 Nevada

Region 5: No. 14 Dike-New Hartford