Decorah scores early, rolls past Glenwood

DES MOINES - They play good soccer way up there in Northeast Iowa. Ask the Decorah Vikings.

Zach Kerndt and Brock Arend scored goals in the first five minutes and Sam Vanney added a second-half marker off a header as Decorah strolled past Glenwood, 3-0, in a Class 2A boys' state soccer tournament quarterfinal Friday at Cownie Park.

The Vikings are 17-1, with their only loss to top-seeded Dubuque Wahlert (15-2), whom they meet in today's semifinals here at 2:30.

“Our boys are excited they get another chance to play Wahlert,” said Decorah Coach Kyle Nelson, whose team lost to the Golden Eagles, 1-0.

“We've been playing soccer together since we were 8,” said Kerndt. “Northeast Iowa, there's not too many people that play soccer up there. It's awesome to come down from Northeast Iowa and win against these guys. It's just awesome.”

Despite its lofty record, Decorah came into this tournament as a No. 5 seed. Not that it mattered after Kerndt scored at the 3:06 mark and Arend converted about a minute and a half later.

“Coming out strong and getting two goals right away helps a lot,” Kerndt said. “It helps the team get pumped up, and it gets the other team down, too. Get the dagger down on them. It's a lot easier going after that.”

Here is a video interview with Kerndt: