Class 3A Iowa boys’ state soccer first-round scores: Marion shows both star power and depth

DES MOINES — The shutout streak ended. So what? Marion’s winning streak is still alive and that’s what matters.

Especially to the players who were part of 1-0 state tournament quarterfinal losses here the last two seasons.

Yeah, a 3-1 win over Denison-Schleswig (10-5) in a Class 3A state quarterfinal at Cownie Soccer Park will do just fine for the No. 3-ranked Wolves (19-0), who hadn’t given up a goal in their first 18 games.

“I think the word that sums it up is just proud,” said Kory Boebel, who also earned his first win at state as head coach. “Glad to see these seniors get a win at state because that’s something that’s eluded us the past couple years.”

For what it’s worth, that shutout streak barely ended. Calen Claypool saved a second-half penalty kick, but Christopher Campos knocked in the rebound.

The Wolves already had scored three goals by that point. Jackson Kirsch was responsible for the third, a free kick that extended his single-season state goals record to 70.

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For as familiar as the state may be with that star power, though, Marion showed its depth as well. Freshman Bryker Langfald scored in the fourth minute on a cross from Kirsch. Another freshman, Sawyer Udelhofen blasted in a point-blank shot just before halftime after senior Seth Morgan tracked down his own shot that caromed off the post and centered the ball.

“That’s been the moral of the story of the past five games,” Boebel said. “Who else wants to score besides Jack? We’ve got guys stepping up. Especially seeing freshmen stepping up like that, it’s awesome.”

Kirsch made plenty of other attacking and defensive contributions from the center of the field, including drawing a second-half Denison-Schleswig yellow card.

“We have a lot of young guys and a lot of old guys, but we trust them all,” Kirsch said. “We’re like a family. Team dinners, we’ve been doing everything this year so we really trust each other out there.”

Class 3A boys’ state soccer quarterfinal scores

Des Moines Hoover 6, Cedar Rapids Xavier 0 — Second-ranked Hoover (17-1) quickly and decisively made sure it would not be another Xavier (6-11) upset victim this postseason.

The Huskies took the lead in the third minute and led 4-0 by halftime.

Xavier upset No. 4 Adel ADM and No. 11 Carlisle on its road to its 20th state tournament appearance.

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Norwalk 3, Humboldt 2 — After giving up a pair of equalizers to fifth-ranked Humboldt, No. 6 Norwalk (12-7) got a 74th-minute goal from freshman Teegan Kralik to advance to face Hoover in Thursday’s semifinals.

Iowa City Liberty 4, Dallas Center-Grimes 2 — No. 9 Liberty (10-8) will take on Marion in the semifinals Thursday after scoring three unanswered second-half goals to take down top-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes. Read more about the Lightning’s win.

Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com