Xavier girls' look for 5th soccer title in a row

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union decided to go to two classes in girls' soccer for the 2002 season.

Class 2A is for the biggest schools enrollement wise. You've got your West Des Moines Valleys, your Bettendorfs, your Cedar Rapids Kennedys.

Then there's Class 1A. Or what you could call Class Xavier.

Five of the eight 1A titles have been won by Cedar Rapids Xavier, including the last four. The Saints take a 19-0 record into Thursday's state tournament in Muscatine and are the overwhelming favorite to add "one for the thumb."

"It's a lot of pressure," said sophomore forward Annie Dale. "But it's what we do. It's a great feeling (to win)."

Xavier has won 25 matches in a row, its last loss coming May 21 of last year to Cedar Falls. This team has scored 93 goals and given up 6.

It has proven itself against the predominantly 2A Mississippi Valley Conference. Once the postseason rolls around, the competition lessens and you get regional tournament wins like 10-0 against DeWitt Central and 5-0 against Marion.

It almost doesn't seem fair.

"You almost wish you'd have a few more challenges before (the state tournament)," said Xavier Coach Doug Graham.

He was asked if the competitor in him wished the IGHSAU would either go back to a one-class tournament or bump Xavier up a class.

"Yeah, I think so. That crosses everybody's mind," he said. "We do get to play some of the 2A schools here in town. But yeah, you kind of wonder. The sportsman side of you."

"Part of me does wish that because you'd get more competition," agreed Xavier senior forward Kat Mettenburg. "You're not beating people 10-0 in the regionals that way. Regionals should be tough, it should prepare you for the state finals. That way you'd know that you're the best in the state, not just the best in your class. If you can beat everyone in the state, it'd be more of an accomplishment, I guess. But at the state tournament, this does give more opportunities (to schools) if it's two classes."

How would this Xavier team do in a one-class tourney? You'd have to believe very well.

"I think we'd do OK," Graham said. "What's nice about this particular team is that they really do work hard for each other. It's not all the cliche stuff, but it is true. There are no real superstars, they work hard for each other. It's all pulling together. From a coach's standpoint, that doesn't happen often."

Glenwood is first up for Xavier at the state tournament. Not Ankeny or Urbandale.

"We just do what they tell us to do," Mettenburg said.