Linn-Mar’s dynamic duo

MARION - Linn-Mar girls' soccer coach Steve Dickinson considers himself a fortunate man. Not only did he return his entire starting lineup from a state tournament qualifier, he has a ready-made attack around which he can build his team.

Juniors Jensen Sevening and Olivia Garcia both were first-team all-state selections a year ago and might be the best one-two punch in the state. They have combined for 16 goals and 10 assists in 10 games, all of which were victories for the second-ranked Class 3A Lions.

They've done so despite being shadowed by defenders close enough to be body guards.

They tirelessly run the field. Each has a booming leg and yet has the consistent touch to serve free kicks and corner kicks in front of the net time after time.

Garcia plays forward and Sevening the center midfielder. Their foot skills - they are as adept as a point guard weaving through the lane - show the years of development in club ball and the dedication of true soccer nerds.

But what makes them different, what makes them so effective is what Sevening calls the 'soccer brain.”

The soccer brain is not an evil genius in charge of the Lions' games but instead is an acquired tactical vision shared by the two soccer lifers.

'Both are very skilled players, knowledgeable in the game and have the desire and the will to win,” Dickinson said. 'They are players that we can build around with their skill sets.

'The biggest progress they've made is they are learning tactically how to play the game. That just comes from experience playing against very good teams and understanding how to play the game tactically.”

Garcia acknowledged the progress that's come with maturity.

'I'm able to realize and see plays play out before they happen,” she said. 'I love how stuff flows on the field and how you use your foot skills and you also have to use your mind.”

That is the heart of soccer's appeal for the two. They work well together and with sophomore forward Claire Larson. The soccer brain enables them to understand where to be, when to be there and how to deliver the ball.

'Olivia is a smart player,” Sevening said. 'She always knows where to be. I think we have kind of an understanding with each other where we both know what each other likes to do on the ball and off the ball. She's also got the soccer brain and knows what to do.”

Sevening considers herself more of a distributor and plays a role similar to that of Iowa City West all-stater Alli Peterson, who is sort of a recessed center mid.

'I'm definitely comfortable on the ball and having the ball at my feet, but I also like finding other passes,” she said. 'I'm not a big fan of the kick-and-run. I like the short, one-two passes and that kind of thing.”

The skills and smarts are there; the chemistry is obvious in their play. Garcia said Sevening brings one more element to the team.

'The funk,” Garcia said. 'She's very outgoing at times and weird. When she's in a good mood, everyone's in a good mood.”