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Iowa City Liberty wins first boys’ state soccer championship in historic rout
Lightning put 4 goals past Norwalk in first-half ambush, set state record with 5-0 win in Class 3A final
DES MOINES — When Iowa City Liberty center back Haider Nasr’s shot hit the back of the net with 23 seconds left to complete a four-goal first-half ambush Saturday, an exasperated Norwalk defender turned and looked toward his team’s bench.
“I don’t know what to do anymore,” he said.
All week at Cownie Soccer Park, Liberty — in its first boys’ state soccer tournament — knew exactly what to do.
The ninth-ranked Lightning (12-8) claimed the school’s first state championship in any boys’ sport by routing No. 6 Norwalk, 5-0, in Saturday’s Class 3A final. It was the most-lopsided championship game in state history.
“We didn’t need anything special,” Liberty Coach Matt Harding said. “I just needed the best from them. If enough of those guys play their best, then we’re a really tough team.
“There was no miraculous bicycle kick or anything like that. It was just sticking with what’s worked for us all year.”
Liberty outscored opponents 28-2 in the postseason and 11-2 in the state tournament. It fell behind Dallas Center-Grimes, 2-1, in the quarterfinals but scored three straight goals to knock off the top-ranked Mustangs. It handed No. 3 Marion its first loss in the semifinals. And it tied a state record (Urbandale in 2002) with five goals in a title game.
“Right when we beat DCG,” all-tournament captain Hayden Saul said when asked when he knew this was a state-championship team. “I knew we were gonna shut out the other teams, because (DCG) was the best team in the tournament besides us.”
Saul was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Nasr, Flori Gembo Motshalindo and goalkeeper Conley Sundblad.
Saul tallied two goals and an assist — to little brother Cooper Saul — against Norwalk (13-8).
Gembo Motshalindo danced through multiple defenders in the box, recovering his footing twice to find Hayden Saul for the opening goal in the 22nd minute. After the 28th-minute Saul connection, Hayden headed in a 38th-minute corner kick. Mason Pentecost scored the fifth in the 56th minute by following up on a Rawad Al Souki shot that rattled the crossbar.
The Lightning won 10 of their last 11 games after a 2-7 start to the season while multiple starters were out. Six of the last seven were shutouts.
“We can’t even give credit to our offense,” Hayden Saul said. “Our defense played amazing in all games.”
The game that started that winning run came in penalties, 2-1, against two-time defending state champion Pleasant Valley.
“We knew that we were legit then,” said Nasr, who transferred from Iowa City West in a move that wasn’t soccer related.
“They accepted me with open arms,” he said. “They all knew me. They were happy that I was coming. It just felt like a family right away. It just clicked, connected.”
Anyone who watched Saturday’s title game could see that in action.
“It’s actually what I expected,” Gembo Motshalindo said, “but it’s a great feeling.”
Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com
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