Xavier seeking third straight (photo gallery)

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sometimes you get a personal black cloud hanging over you, and it just won't break up or move away. Ask Eli Smith about that.

The Cedar Rapids Xavier junior missed the previous two and a half weeks of the soccer season because of mononucleosis. Then Saturday morning he came up on the wrong end of a battle with his car door.

We're talking blood and everything, a wound bad enough that Smith played a Class 2A substate final against Benton Community with tape all over his damaged left hand.

“It happened right on my way here,” Smith said. “So I didn't really have time to get it (fully) taken care of.”

He smiled when he said that, shrugging off his bad luck. He could afford to do that after scoring a pair of goals that helped Xavier to a 4-0 win and back to the state tournament.

The Saints take an un-Xavier like 8-8-1 record to Des Moines this week. They're seeded sixth and will play third-seeded Norwalk (13-5) in a 2:30 quarterfinal Thursday at Cownie Park that's a rematch of last season's 1-0 title game.

Don't sleep on these guys, because they're very capable of accomplishing a 2A state championship three-peat. They seem focused, too, considering a minimal celebration postgame.

“Yeah, we realize there are a lot more important games,” said Chad Gilmer, who also had two goals as Xavier put away a game that was just 1-0 at half. “Our seniors have already been there two times, so this was just another stepping stone to getting back. There was excitement, but more anticipation, I guess, for the next game.”

At points this spring, Xavier had unheard of records of 1-4-1 and 3-7-1, but that primarily was against Class 3A competition. The Saints usually dominate when they play smaller schools, which is why they were ranked seventh in 2A despite having a losing record going into the postseason.

“During the regular season, we lost a lot of close games that we usually put on our side,” said Xavier Coach Amir Hadzic. “We lost two games in penalty kicks and three in overtime. Our record would be completely different if we (had won those). But we never stopped believing, even when we were 4-7, that we would be in top shape when it counts. Playing in the Mississippi Valley Conference obviously helps.”

Benton finished 12-5-2, generating little offense in the game, particularly in the second half. Probably BC's finest chance came late in the first when Justin Lord had a shot from the top of the box sail just wide right of the goal.

2012 2a State Soccer Pairings