City High soccer finds scoring touch, routs Xavier

IOWA CITY—Early season soccer matches include performances that are all over the map. Even Siri can't quite pinpoint what's going on as teams try to mesh different players together and discover the best positions for different players.

The City High boys' team split two games at the Muscatine tournament over the weekend, squandering scoring chances in its loss to the Muskies. However, the Little Hawks found their scoring touch Tuesday against Xavier in a definitive 6-1 victory at City High.

'We played well and we had so many chances, but it was one of those things where everything goes wrong,' City High coach Jose Fajardo said of the opening-match loss. 'We made a mistake at the end and they scored. We were rushing too much. We didn't play the way we like to play. Today showed what we can do.'

'The forwards have been struggling to score goals, so it's good to play good and see the ball go into the net,' sophomore Collin O'Meara said.

City High (2-1) dominated possession throughout the 80 minutes and was able to mount attack after attack. City's goals were scored by O'Meara (2), Peter Larsen, Rasmus Schlutter, Adam Nicholson and John Havugarurema. 'Last year early in the season we had a game where things clicked,' Larsen said. 'And I think this is our game where things clicked, and we put things together.'

Xavier coach Amir Hadzic lauded City's performance.

'I saw the teams in the jamboree, and I think with Kennedy they will be one of the teams to beat,' he said. 'Having players like Alejandro (Pacheco), who is very flexible, you can use him in the defense when you need to tighten it up and when you need a scorer you can move him up. I don't think any other team has a player like that who can change positions and change the complexion of the game.'

The Saints lost a big senior class, and their only playing experience this spring was a shortened Jamboree game a week earlier. Practices have been severely limited by the weather and field conditions.

'Our entire preseason was in the gym,' Hadzic said. 'Being in a gym you can condition and things like that but obviously not much work on the defense or offense. I think we are about two weeks behind. We don't look like ourselves. We hope we will catch up in the next two weeks.

'It's maybe not ideal to play a team like City High in the first game, but it is good to tell us where we are.'

Xavier tied the game at 1-1 with 18 minutes left in the first half. Sam Blake got the score off the corner from Luke Koechner. But the Little Hawks responded with two more goals before halftime.

Larsen said the Little Hawks are still trying to find the right combinations as they work in younger players.

'With (all-state forward) Fernando (Pacheco) gone we're still trying to find a person who can step up and really be a strong person in the attacking third and put the ball in the back of the net,' Larsen said.

If this game is any indication, there are plenty of candidates.