Van Meter topples another top-5 team, blanking West Liberty in boys’ state soccer semifinals

DES MOINES — Van Meter might just be under-seeded.

Two days after eliminating No. 1 West Branch from the boys’ soccer state tournament in the opening round, the uranked, eighth-seeded Bulldogs wrestled with No. 5 West Liberty in a Class 1A state semifinal.

Once the final horn sounded with the scoreboard flashing “Van Meter 2, West Liberty 0,” one fact was clear. This is no fluke. Van Meter is stout.

“One, they outmatched us physically,” West Liberty Coach Walton Ponce said Friday at Drake Stadium. “They played well. We resisted some of their physicality and once that first goal came about, the game actually opened up a little bit. It loosened up. We probably had a couple of (chances) here and there, but again, just outmatched physically and we couldn’t get that clear opportunity to get back in the game.”

After a scoreless first half, Van Meter broke through with a pair of goals in the second. In the 45th minute, Van Meter sophomore Micah Simeck’s cross found junior Caleb Moore, who headed the ball past the West Liberty goalkeeper from his knees. Fifteen minutes later, the Bulldogs got some valuable insurance when freshman Adam Boeck scored for just the second time this season.

“There is just always someone on your back,” West Liberty sophomore forward Uriel Andrade said. “Tough. There are always two guys on your back. You try to play, you try to come in, they are just there. You try to play out, they are just there. Really physical.”

This is the first state tournament appearance for Van Meter (16-5), and it might end with a state title. The Bulldogs will play No. 3 North Fayette Valley (17-3) for the 1A crown Saturday at 4 p.m. at Mediacom Stadium. The TigerHawks, also in a title game for the first time, beat No. 2 Iowa City Regina, 1-0 in double overtime.

Much like Van Meter, not a ton was expected from this year’s Comets given last season’s graduation losses. To jump up and reach the state tournament for the fifth season in a row, not to mention a quarterfinal win over defending state champion Western Christian, all bodes well for the future.

“No one believed in us,” West Liberty junior defender Javier Andrade said. “We just had the heart to play. We gave it our all and I think what is different between all the years. We were hungry. We just wanted to win, but we came a little short.”

West Liberty remains in search of its first berth in a state championship match. The Comets entered Friday with wins in six of seven matches, but bow out at 13-6 this season with their fourth trip to the state semifinals in the last five seasons. It is a program that is usually on the lower end of the roster numbers compared to other 1A schools.

The Comets will graduate six seniors, but there is a palpable buzz surrounding some of the current eighth-graders that will be joining the varsity squad next year. Plus, West Liberty returns a talented cast that includes leading goal-scorer Uriel Andrade (20 goals), Javier Andrade on the backline and goalkeeper David Hernandez.

“This was probably the least-talented team that we have had in the last five years,” Ponce said. “And I felt like we had a shot to get to the title game. … It wasn’t our best game. We fell a little but short, but the program is here for a while. I know we will be here again.”