116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
DCG ends Cedar Rapids Washington season of progress in boys’ state soccer semifinals
No. 4-ranked Mustangs blank No. 9 Warriors, 4-0
DES MOINES — Two years removed from a two-win season, Cedar Rapids Washington nearly set a new standard.
No Washington team had ever reached the finals of the boys' soccer state tournament. If the 2024 Warriors were to be the first, they would have to get past prolific scoring standout Ben Jackson and No. 4 Dallas Center-Grimes.
It was just too tall a hurdle.
“They have eight starting seniors and have been playing together for a long time,” Washington Coach J.P. Graham said after the ninth-ranked Warriors were blanked by DCG, 4-0, in a Class 3A state semifinal match Friday at Drake Stadium. “They really switch the ball, switch fields really well with some long, diagonal passes that we really haven’t seen this year. Even though we knew it was coming, it is hard to simulate any of that in practice. They are a little bit better than us in a couple of key positions and we didn’t really take advantage of our chances that we got.”
DCG's Jackson — a Buena Vista recruit and first team all-state selection in 2023 — entered the match leading 3A with 26 goals scored and was tied for 10th in assists (11). The senior forward added to both tallies in the first half, first with a powerful scoring strike in the sixth minute that immediately had Washington on its heels.
“It is a combination of his speed, his knowledge of the game, his ability to move on and off the ball,” Washington senior defender/midfielder and team captain Rolend Stewart said. “He is able to find our pockets and obviously execute on them.”
Twenty minutes later, another Jackson shot was deflected away by the Washington goalkeeper, but corralled and punched home by DCG junior Zach Bruck for a 2-0 Mustangs advantage. Jackson recorded his second assist of the match in the 53rd minute on a goal from senior Cyrus Khosravi, while Bruck tacked on another goal in the 60th minute.
“It's not only Jackson,” Washington junior forward/midfielder and team captain Jacob Klein said. “Their midfielder, Tate McDermott, I had studied him days before and he's just amazing off the ball. We talked about him, we talked about other midfielders, talked about how they play and we just couldn't capitalize on it.”
After beginning the season with six losses in its first 11 matches, Washington retires at 12-8.
“Two years ago, my sophomore year, rebuilding,” said Stewart, who will play college soccer at Simpson. “And even last year, a little bit better, 6-10, I believe. Rebuilding. I’m proud to say this year, 12-8.”
DCG (16-4) will play No. 2 Des Moines Hoover (18-2) for the 3A title Saturday at 10 a.m. at Mediacom Stadium. The Huskies beat No. 6 Norwalk, 2-1, earlier Friday.
The Warriors graduate seven seniors, including forward/midfielder Mwena Tambwe and defender Shabani Mabele, who combined for 20 goals.
“They stuck with it,” Graham said.
The semifinal disappointment would prove valuable for a Washington team that will return 70 percent of its goal-scoring production, led by sophomore Holden Smith (17 goals, 11 assists) and Klein (15 goals, eight assists).
“I was thinking about that in the bus,” Klein said. “This is great experience for everybody here today. Fans, keep on coming next year. So it will give us a lot of confidence for next year.”
Daily Newsletters