Washington tops Kennedy in top-ten clash

CEDAR RAPIDS — It was the tale of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object as No. 5 Cedar Rapids Washington ousted No. 6 Cedar Rapids Kennedy in a Class 3A substate final Saturday afternoon at Kingston Stadium.

The Warriors (14-4-0) advanced to the state tournament for the second straight year with a 1-0 victory over the Cougars (14-5-0). Washington is seeded sixth in the tournament and opens against No. 3 Sioux City West (18-1) on Thursday.

An early second half goal by Mike Eken gave the Warriors the edge they needed to advance to the eight-team state tournament at Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines.

'We're two different style programs,' said Washington Coach J.P. Graham. 'So those styles collide. And the crowd gets into it and the alumni get into it and the players love it.'

Eken, a senior, said advancing to the state tournament for the third time in his four years as a player is great, but the victory against a rival was sweeter.

'There's no team I'd rather beat twice in one year,' Eken said. '(The goal) was a set piece and I ran at the ball and it hit me in the side. It felt great.'

Connor Geuder assisted Eken's goal, laying the ball up for a perfect shot. Geuder said he didn't really know what to do, except celebrate.

'When I stepped up, I looked for Mike's red hair and placed it up to his head,' Geuder said. 'After he scored, I didn't know what to do so I just jumped up.'

The ball rolled into the goal, slowly, making Eken 'extremely nervous.'

The Warriors beat the Cougars in overtime, 1-0, earlier in the regular season on a free kick by Jacob Bjornsen.

Led by a sound defense that has allowed only six goals all season, Washington played back and watched Kennedy miss five shots, three of which struck the crossbar in the first half.

'The backbone of (the defense) is Jacob Bjornsen, Mike Eken and Gunner (Lenzen),' Graham said. 'They're just so strong and mentally tough that they just aren't going to allow goals.'

Graham said players like his don't come around as often as they did 20 years ago, and he's going to ride it out as long as he can.

It will be the seventh time in Graham's 13 years the Warriors are headed to the state tournament.

'When the kids do a senior night thing and we ask, 'What's your most memorable thing about Warrior soccer?' it's usually a certain win over Kennedy or a certain win over Iowa City West,' Graham said. 'That just shows me how much they like it.'

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