City High boys’ soccer changes recent history

DES MOINES - The last two years, Iowa City High came into the state tournament only to exit in the first round.

That wasn't the case this year.

The Little Hawks took control early before cruising to a 3-0 win over Des Moines Roosevelt on Thursday.

'After the two loses we had the last two years in the first round to teams that were not as we were on paper, we weren't going to take anything for granted, so this victory is huge,” City High Coach Jose Fajardo said. 'Sometimes the first ones are the hardest.”

The Little Hawks got on the board in the 17th minute when sophomore Cameron Chavez, just seconds after getting subbed in, took a shot from about 30 yards out that found the back of the net. City tried to attack from a distance because Fajardo said the team studied Roosevelt and realized the Roughriders would have a line of defenders back the entire time, and that would be the best way to attack.

'So shooting from the distance (we knew) was going to be a way to penetrate the defense, so we talked about that, and sometimes what you talk about happens,” Fajardo said. 'I'm really happy with the guys.”

City's strategy worked again just before the half when senior Collin O'Maera scored on a shot from well outside the box that found the top corner and gave City the 2-0 lead about a minute before the half.

'It felt really good, I think the keeper wasn't really expecting me to shoot, but it was good to get one right before we went into halftime,” O'Maera said.

City's final goal came off a free kick by junior Gavin Oliver in the 65th minute that was initially saved. However, sophomore Hunter teDuits tapped it in off the deflection. The Little Hawks then were able to play keep away for the rest of the second half as both teams emptied their benches with about five minutes left.

City High will play Ames today at 5 p.m. in the semifinals,

'I know a lot about Ames, I didn't talk about Ames until we beat this team because I didn't want to anticipate anything,” Fajardo said. 'I'm expecting a tough competition, they just had a tough game against Linn-Mar, they were down 2-0 they came back 4-2, so obviously a team who has some heart and has a way to get back into the game.”

The other matchup semifinal matchup will be between second-seeded West Des Moines Valley and sixth-seeded Cedar Rapids Washington.