Iowa City High takes No. 1 Johnston to 2OT, but Dragons prevail in boys’ state soccer quarterfinals

DES MOINES — It was a tough opening draw.

The Iowa City High boys’ soccer team came ready to battle.

The No. 10-ranked Little Hawks (11-3) gave top-ranked Johnston (18-2) everything it could handle in the opening round of the Class 4A boys’ state soccer tournament Wednesday at Cownie Soccer Park before falling 3-2 in double-overtime.

“I think that we did unbelievable,” City High Coach Jose Michel Fajardo said. “I mean, we are only starting one senior on this team. We have a super-young team, and we knew Johnston was going to be difficult. They are very physical. They play very direct. They disrupt the game all the time, but we prepared for it.”

Johnston struck first as AJ Colocho pushed a shot through in the 22nd minute.

City High freshman Seth Zeithamel responded with a game-tying goal with 9:50 left in the opening period.

“At the beginning, we were nervous,” Fajardo said. “You could feel that lack of, ‘I’m here.’ It took us a little time to adjust.”

The second half was quiet until Gabe Egeland broke loose for a score to give the Little Hawks a 2-1 lead with 21:09 remaining.

“Today, we were down against the No. 1 and came back to lead,” Fajardo said. “That’s character.”

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City High goalkeeper Ben Borger-Germann had a crucial save on a Johnston header with 17:45 left to preserve City’s lead.

However, the lead didn’t last much longer as Johnston’s Kyron Pope found an opening for a goal to tie it a 2-2 with 13:32 left.

Neither team scored during the remainder of regulation, nor the first overtime.

Just 47 seconds into OT No. 2, Colocho notched his second goal, this one the game-winner.

This was City High’s 13th appearance at the state tournament and its first since 2018. The Little Hawks’ top six scorers return to the fold next season.

“I think this was a good experience for us,” Fajardo said. “Now we can become stronger for next year and do a little bit better here.

“We beat some really good teams this year. I think they have a lot to feel proud of.”