Substate soccer finals feature highly-ranked clashes

IOWA CITY - Saturday's boys' substate soccer finals feature a number of rematches and matches between ranked foes, meaning some very good soccer teams will be left at home after today's play.

Defending 3A champ Iowa City West (17-1) is without two-year starting defender Ryan Collins after surgery to remove his appendix three weeks ago. Sam Hansen has started in his stead.

'Once again having guys train with us all year-round is helpful,” West coach Brad Stiles said.

It's unlikely Collins will be back even if the Trojans reach the state tournament.

'He went to training and they told him to walk,” Stiles said. 'He just walks and walks like he's pacing, like he's the coach. He's taking it well and he's still supporting us so that's good.

Third-ranked West takes on Prairie (8-7), a shootout winner over Muscatine on Thursday. West beat Prairie 1-0 on April 22 in the regular season and is coming off a 7-0 win over Jefferson.

'I think our offense is doing well,” West senior Ryan Odeen said. 'We know every game from here on in gets more challenging, so it's nice to get the win but we just have to be focused on the next one. Whatever team we play is going to be a good challenge. We're not overlooking anyone.”

One of the most interesting rematches has No. 5 Washington (13-4) against No. 6 Kennedy (14-4). The Warriors won the regular-season game 1-0 in overtime on Jacob Bjornsen's free kick just outside the top of the box. The Cougars have to find a way to crack the Warriors' nearly impenetrable defense.

No. 4 Linn-Mar (16-3), the Valley division champion in the MVC, plays host to ninth-ranked Bettendorf (17-4). Those teams did not play in the regular season. The Bulldogs are a perennial power in the MAC and finished second to Pleasant Valley this season.

Second-ranked City High (14-2), co-champion of the Mississippi division in the MVC, faces No. 7 Pleasant Valley (14-2), the MAC champ which hasn't lost a match since the season-opening tournament at Muscatine.

Defending 2A champion Xavier (8-9) plays host to Dubuque Wahlert (4-13), a team it defeated 6-0 on April 24. Defending 1A champion and second-ranked Regina (12-3) has a rematch with No. 5 West Liberty, a team it defeated 2-0 on April 22. The Comets (11-3) qualified for the state tournament the last two years.

Class 2A top-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock (13-1) plays host to Hudson (10-9), while 1A top-ranked Dyersville Beckman (18-1) entertains No. 8 Postville (9-6). The Blazers won the regular-season match 3-2.

A number of teams are playing to earn the school's first state tournament berth: Prairie, 1A No. 4 Mid-Prairie, 2A No. 10 Central Clinton Dewitt, 3A No. 7 Pleasant Valley, Fairfield, Postville and Columbus Community.