Plenty of parallels between eighth-ranked MVC rivals Prairie and Washington

CEDAR RAPIDS — While foes on Friday, the Cedar Rapids Prairie and Cedar Rapids Washington boys’ soccer teams have a lot in common.

Same division? Check.

Identical ranking? Yes.

Stingy defense? Mm-hmm.

No. 1 seeds at substate? Indeed.

The Hawks found the separating strike Friday, edging Washington 1-0 in a windy Mississippi Valley Conference, Valley Division battle at John Wall Field.

“Our motto all year has been, ‘We don’t give up goals,’” Prairie Coach Curt Lewis said. “With the high school rules not going to penalties, it’s 80 minutes, so we felt comfortable that we can lock in, defend and pick and choose (on offense).”

After more than 77 minutes of scoreless play, Trey Thompson headed home the game-winning goal on a corner pass from Drew DeSmidt.

Wind gusts topped more than 20 miles per hour Friday.

“Going against the wind, it was a great thing,” Lewis said. “It’s good to reward yourself late.”

At 12-3-1, Prairie is ranked eighth in Class 4A. Washington (5-5-3) is No. 8 in 3A.

“I think we both want to play solid defense and still attack when we can,” Washington Coach JP Graham said. “Maybe they were a slight favorite over us tonight, but it was a dogfight.”

“They’re good — especially in 3A, they’re going to be a very formidable opponent,” Lewis said. “Who knows what would’ve happened if it was perfect conditions. Maybe they get us, maybe we get them. Either way, I know we’re going to defend.”

The Hawks have allowed just 12 goals through 16 games.

“We defend as a team — if one guy breaks down, the next guy is there ready to help,” Lewis said. “Everybody wants to score and we’ve got guys who can score goals, trust me. But it’s that whole cliché — offense puts fans in the stands, but defense wins championships.”

The Warriors have allowed 20 goals through 13 games, a more than respectable mark considering 11 of their opponents have been 4A schools.

“I’m hoping us playing in these competitive matches with 4A teams pays off in the long run,” Graham said. “We’ve played probably eight or nine ranked teams, so I just hope it pays off like it did for us last year.”

The Warriors reached the 3A state semifinals a season ago.

Prairie missed the state tournament in 2024 after three consecutive appearances from 2021-2023.

“I'm extremely proud of these guys after having the tough season we had last year,” Lewis said. “There were a lot of unknowns about what this squad was going to do. They just approach it every day trying to get a little bit better.”

The Hawks, too, have challenged themselves with a strong schedule.

Prairie has beaten 4A No. 3 Dowling, previously ranked Waukee Northwest and 3A No. 2 Iowa City Liberty.

“We started our preseason with games against Bettendorf and Iowa City West,” Lewis said. “Then the first weekend of the season we went to Iowa City and played Dowling and Urbandale, who was No. 1 in 3A for a long time.”

Washington has two more regular season games — Dubuque Senior (May 19) and Burlington Notre Dame (May 23). Then the Warriors shift to the postseason as the top seed in 3A Substate 3. They’ll host the victor of Waterloo East and Sumner-Fredericksburg in the semifinal round on May 27, with No. 9 Marion their likely finals opponent.

“It’s taken the whole year to kind of figure out our identity, how to trust each other and learn everybody’s strengths and weaknesses,” Graham said. “That’s the best part about seeing a team come together at the end of a season. I’m really proud of them.”

Prairie is the 1-seed in 4A Substate 7. It’ll host the winner of Muscatine and Davenport West in the semis on May 27, with Pleasant Valley and Davenport North on the other side of the bracket.

Lewis knows the importance of making the road to state go through John Wall Field.

“The six times we’ve gone to state, we hosted the substate,” Lewis said. “We didn’t lose at home this year, so hopefully that can continue. I told the guys, we want to hear the celebration song two more times. If we hear it two more times, we’re going to state.”