West, Prairie paired in tough regional

This year's Linn-Mar/Kennedy 'what-did-we-do-to-deserve-this” girls' soccer regional includes No. 1 Iowa City West and No. 10 Prairie.

The Women of Troy were unbeaten before a trip to Des Moines on May 23 when they lost two games with a few players absent because of state track commitments.

'I think the Des Moines teams didn't get a true look at who we really are,” West Coach Dave Rosenthal said. 'We never once talked about whether we were undefeated or not. We talk about the game in front of us. It's how you're playing at the end of the season.”

They still finished 15-2 and only No. 2 West Des Moines Dowling has as few losses.

Rosenthal said he's stopped trying to make sense of postseason pairings.

'Here's the approach we're going to take,” he said. 'We're going to play five games to win the state title. You're going to have to play some tough teams, and why not play them in the regional to help you prepare for what's going on at state?”

Iowa City West plays host to Washington (7-9) in Wednesday's first round.

Prairie compiled a 12-3 record, and its only losses came to teams ranked in the top eight.

'We'll prepare for it the exact same way,” Prairie Coach Dave Kea said. 'We play Jefferson Wednesday night, and they've improved throughout the year. It will be a great challenge. Depending on what West does, maybe we'll see them Monday night.

'There's no sure thing; anything can happen,”

Prairie has never been to the state girls' tournament and hopes to accomplish what the boys' team did in earning its first berth.

'As a team we've really embraced what (the boys' team) has stood for,” Kea said. 'It's something that's helped drive the girls the last few games.”

Oddly, Linn-Mar (13-4) is sort of in the opposite boat this year. Last year the Lions were unbeaten, ranked first and saddled with a regional final against the suddenly healthy Cougars, who went on to win their third state title. This year the Lions were ranked first early but lost four consecutive games midseason. If they reach the regional final they'll play at Hempstead (14-3), the MVC Mississippi division champion.

'Hopefully we've got it sorted out,” Linn-Mar Coach Steve Dickinson said. 'They're playing well together right now, and they're having fun. We had some injuries but we had everyone at practice (Monday) night. We're rested.”

City High, this year's 3A feel-good story, will likely face No. 2 Dowling (15-2) in Des Moines if it reaches the regional final. Kennedy is likely to play host to Cedar Falls in its regional final.

In 2A fifth-ranked Xavier seeks to extend its state record for most consecutive state tourney appearances to 13, hosting PCM today at 5. In 1A, fifth-ranked Clear Creek Amana (15-1) will try to earn the school's first state tournament trip with all three games at home. Second-ranked Iowa City Regina (12-3), a team with a dynamic offense, will try for its fourth consecutive trip as the top seed in its regional. The Regals reached the semifinals a year ago.