Williamsburg’s season ends in state semifinals against defending champ Sioux City Heelan

DES MOINES — For nearly 25 minutes, Williamsburg held Class 2A’s top offense in check.

Then the Crusaders got hot.

Defending 2A champion and second-ranked Sioux City Heelan (18-2) showed every tool in its offensive arsenal on Wednesday, defeating No. 5 Williamsburg, 7-0, in the state semifinals at Mediacom Stadium.

“They’re a good team for sure, and they back it up on the field,” Williamsburg Coach Ryan Sauser said. “We helped them out a little bit, which you can't do against a team like that. You have to play solid and sound back there.

“They're a good team; I'm not taking anything away from that — we just didn't adjust well enough or quick enough.”

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Williamsburg keeper Logan Hummer nabbed several Crusaders shot attempts before Cal Giese put home a goal on an assist from Andres Gonzalez with 15:11 left in the first half.

“I thought he (Hummer) did a nice job,” Sauser said. “There were a lot of tough plays and a lot of traffic he had to look through back there. That’s what’s hard in a game like that.

“A lot of guys played really well. It was more just organizationally trying to adjust that didn’t happen. I’m happy with the guys’ efforts.”

Gonzalez then found Sergio Mijangos open for a goal at the 12:24 mark.

Gonzalez is 2A’s assists leader. Mijangos entered Wednesday’s contest second in the state in goals scored.

As a team, Sioux City Heelan led the state in goals scored and assists this season.

The Crusaders led 2-0 at halftime before exploding for four goals — from Mijangos, Gonzalez and two from Chris Padilla — in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

“They’ve got a good group that can serve it, finish it and find those runs, so you can’t give them space,” Sauser said. “We allowed them to have too much. Obviously, it broke open for them.”

Mijangos added his third goal with 22:11 remaining.

“The fatigue of the stretch here was showing a little bit, but the effort was there,” Sauser said. “It’s just, you’d love to get organized a little cleaner so you can kind of reap the effort they were putting out there.”

This was the Raiders’ first appearance at the state tournament since reaching the Class 1A semifinals in 2018.

“I think the culmination of the last few seasons kind of earned this opportunity,” Sauser said. “I was happy for them to get here because we've knocked on the door and played the state title teams really close in the substate finals the last couple of years.

“So to get through not only to the tournament, but then to make it up here was extra special.”

The Raiders’ season ends at 14-2-3 — tied for the most wins in a single season in program history. Williamsburg also won the Wamac-West for a third straight year.

“I’m proud of the guys,” Sauser said. “For them, I wish the outcome could have been different.

“That group of seniors, they’ve fought hard. They’re a gritty group. Obviously it’s not the feeling you want to walk off with, but I’m proud of the guys and just excited for them to have gotten to experience more of it.”

Sioux City Heelan will play the winner of No. 1 Gilbert and No. 7 Webster City in the state championship game Friday at 2:30 at Mediacom Stadium.