Girls state soccer moves to D.M.

DES MOINES -- The Board of Directors of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union selected Des Moines' James W. Cownie Soccer Park as the new home of the girls state soccer tournament at a meeting Wednesday.

The Cownie Soccer Park will serve as the host venue for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 tournaments. The IGHSAU also reviewed host proposals from the City of Muscatine and the Cedar Valley Sports Commission.

 “We are pleased to bring the Girls State Soccer Tournament to Des Moines,” said Mike Dick, Executive Director of the IGHSAU. “This was an extremely difficult decision. Muscatine and Cedar Valley both have outstanding soccer venues. However, I have been impressed with the many improvements that have been made at the Cownie Soccer Park. It is a top-notch soccer facility and will be a great venue for state tournament teams and their fans.”

Muscatine has served as the home of the girls state tournament since the IGHSAU sanctioned girls soccer in 1998.

“This has been a bittersweet day. We are excited to bring state soccer to Des Moines, but we can't thank the city of Muscatine, Muscatine High School and the Muscatine Parks and Recreation staff enough for the outstanding job they have done hosting the state soccer tournament,” Dick said. “We have built some great relationships with some terrific people over the last 15 years.”

The James W. Cownie Soccer Park has 12 soccer fields. The four fields that will be utilized during the state soccer tournament have lights and the championship field has bleacher seating for 2,000 people along with a press box.  Another field seats 750 people.