Iowa City West back in 3A title game (photo gallery)

DES MOINES - All the glorious offensive chances Iowa City West had, and this was the first goal.

Iowa City West's Mueng Sunday (9, left) is pulled down by Ames' Chris Lee (11) in the second half of their 3A semifinal game at the state soccer tournament on Friday, June 1, 2012, at Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines. West won and will play in the championship Saturday at 5 p.m. (Liz Martin/The Gazette-KCRG)

Tim Fleagle struck the ball, but never saw it go into the net because his view was blocked by all the players in front of him. It technically might be credited to him, but was initially listed as an own goal.

Weird stuff but deserved stuff, as West was clearly the better team in a 2-0 win over Ames in a Class 3A state tournament semifinal Friday.

“We worked hard, tried hard, and one went in,” Fleagle said. “That's all that really matters.”

Exactly.

Top-seeded West (20-1) broke the record for most state tourney victories when it pasted Sioux City West in Thursday's quarterfinals and made it 28 wins here Friday. It'll top the mark for most championships (six) if it beats third-seeded Johnston (19-2) today at 5.

The game will be telecast live on KCRG-9.2.

“I remember losing last year in the semifinals, and the bus ride home was just silent,” Fleagle said. “I'm looking forward to a fun one home this time.”

The Trojans scored eight goals Thursday and could have had about as many Friday had they finished off a few more of the numerous quality opportunities they created.

The first half somehow ended scoreless, thanks to some fine saves by Ames keeper Jacob Hurley and some bad luck. Bryton Ostler's drive from about 25 feet clanked off the crossbar.

“We were definitely doing the right things,” said West Coach Brad Stiles. “We were missing a little bit of, I think the word I used was savvy ... We'd get the ball in the right spot, but that person would take a little too long, and Ames would have the chance to organize (defensively). They organize quickly and efficiently. Sometimes when you play a team that defends that well, it takes a bounce or a redirection to get a goal in.”

That's what happened.

In the fifth minute of the second half, Fleagle let go with a ball from roughly 30 feet out front that appeared to deflect off an Ames defender and roll ever so slowly past Hurley, who had committed to the original shot.

“I don't even know (how),” Fleagle said. “I tried to find Paris (Martins) in behind. He was asking for it. I mishit it. Things just went our way, I guess.”

Alex Troester finally put it out of reach with 2:28 left on a free kick from about 35 yards to the left of the goal that clanked off the left post and in. Strangely, it took about five seconds for the West cheering section and team bench to react to the goal.

Weird game in a lot of ways.

“For all the times we missed the goal ...,” Troester said. “It was a relief just to put one in. Then the mentality of ‘OK, let's get another one' really put this game to bed.”