1 down, 2 to go for Cougars (photo gallery)

MUSCATINE - On every Cedar Rapids Kennedy player's hand was a big “3” in black marker, a constant reminder of their goal to win a state championship.

Kennedy's Alyssa Drewelow (23) battles for the ball with Iowa City West's Alli Peterson (22) during their class 3A quarterfinal game at the 2012 Iowa Girls High School State Soccer Championships Thursday, June 7, 2012 at the Muscatine Soccer Complex in Muscatine. Kenneday won the game 2-0 to advance. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

After a 2-0 victory Thursday over Iowa City West in a Class 3A quarterfinal, that number can be changed to “2” - as in two games to go.

West came out firing, putting the Cougars under enormous pressure and drawing big saves from senior goalkeeper Allie Hutcheson.

But Kennedy was dangerous on the attack. With about 20 minutes left in the first half, a Cougar counter left sophomore forward Emily Feltes open to find a sprinting Hannah Palomo through to goal. Palomo tucked the ball into side netting to open the scoring.

Kennedy went to halftime clinging to the one-goal lead. The Cougars had dodged a few bullets. West was creating quality opportunities but repeatedly failed to finish.

Ten minutes into the second half, Cougar sophomore forward Kaela Dickerman found herself in the West corner with the ball. She dribbled through two defenders who looked like they thought the ball was out of bounds or were expecting the cross, then nutmegged the goalkeeper to giving Kennedy a 2-0 lead it didn't relinquish.

“I just zoomed past them and got it in between the goalie's legs,” Dickerman said. “It was a really sharp angle. I'm surprise I got it honestly, but I was really excited when I did.”

West Coach David Rosenthal moved standout Emma Winstead and others up trying to equalize, but the efforts were fruitless.

“As the game progresses, you try different things to try to get them off balance,” Rosenthal said. “It doesn't matter if it's 1-0 or 5-0, you've got to take some risks to get back in the game.”

The game featured plenty of physical play. Every 50-50 ball was a battle from which no players were willing to back down.

In West's last 10 state appearances, it has been beaten in the first round only once.

“Today we didn't have the soccer ability to beat a very good Kennedy team,” Rosenthal said. “But I would take these young ladies any day as leaders and soccer players over anybody.”

Kennedy faces Bettendorf in a semifinal at 7 Friday night. You can bet Kennedy will be sporting a big, black “2” their hands.

One down, two to go.