I.C. West knocks off Bettendorf in 3A semifinals

MUSCATINE - One goal provided a lead. Two goals provided a guaranteed spot in the championship.

That's the way Iowa City West wins soccer games. Score and rely on a fundamentally sound and disciplined defense.

It's a formula that's gotten the Women of Troy to the Class 3A state tournament championship game. Anna Hausler scored in the first half and Nicole Rondeau early in the second as West subdued No. 7 Bettendorf, 2-0, in a semifinal Friday afternoon.

"(Defense) has been one of our main focuses," Rondeau said. "Our coach always tells us to play twice as smart on defense and twice as hard on offense. We know if we have a good defense, that our offense will come from that. We try to build off the defense and transitioning forward. Basically, we do what we do."

West (18-2) came into this tournament under the radar below a bunch of schools from the Des Moines metro area, not to mention under ranked (sixth). It's the fourth time for the Women of Troy in the finals, the second in three years.

West's only title came in 2004.

"This year has just been incredible. We were talking about this earlier," said West Coach David Rosenthal. "There are eight or 10 teams that I think could win it all. We're just as good as anybody else, and on any given day ..."

West has allowed eight goals this season, pitching a pair of state tournament shutouts, if you'll excuse the mixed sports metaphors. The Women of Troy had to wait until overtime to get their first goal in Thursday's quarterfinals but watched Hausler head home a perfect cross from Eleni Katz to score at the 25-minute mark against Bettendorf (15-6).

"Perfect, perfect cross by Eleni," Hausler said. "She just got it up there to me."

Rondeau put her team over the top four minutes into the second half by blasting a direct kick from the top of the penalty box off the hands of Bettendorf goalkeeper Ali Schuetz and trickling into the net.

Defense took care of the rest, as always.

West's title task won't be easy. It's No. 1 Ankeny (20-1), which has three Division I college players in Marissa Hurt (Iowa), Julia Adler (Nebraska-Omaha) and Alyssa Williamson (Iowa State).

"I feel it this year. I think this is our year," Rondeau said. "We've been playing really good lately, and we have a really solid team. If we just do what we need to do and what I know we can do, I think we can beat Ankeny."

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