Linn-Mar edges Jefferson, advances to substate final

AT LINN-MAR STADIUMLinn-Mar 1, C.R. Jefferson 0Goal-Blake Comstock.  Assist-Ben Johnson.

MARION – Linn-Mar is on the brink of its first trip to the boys' state soccer tournament since 2008, and a talented cast of underclassmen is leading the way.“We've had a good year, it's been a while,” Linn-Mar Coach Corey Brinkmeyer said after his 10th-ranked Lions edged Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 1-0, in a 3A substate semifinal Wednesday night at Linn-Mar Stadium.  “We still have a long way to go.”Less than two-and-a-half minutes into the match, Linn-Mar freshman midfielder Hunter Wong dribbled down the right sideline, eluding the grasp of Jefferson's Jacob Chiza.  Wong hit forward Ben Johnson in the right corner, and Johnson's low cross to another freshman, forward Blake Comstock, was gathered outside the goal area and drilled into the Jefferson net for the early advantage.“Ben Johnson had a wonderful pass to me, I just kind of stayed my run back, held it, and placed it in the back of the net,” Comstock said.The assist was a team-high seventh during a breakout season for Johnson, a sophomore who also leads the Lions with 11 goals.“Ben played varsity for us last year as a freshman, (he) gave us some good numbers and great minutes,” Brinkmeyer said.  “He just continues to grow game after game and, you know, today he got the assist, a really unselfish play by him.”Johnson credits the six varsity freshman as a key ingredient to a 13-6 season for the Lions, their highest win total since the 15-5 state tournament season of 2005.“This freshman class has definitely been one of the better classes to move through,” Johnson said.  “It's really helped us this year because we've been passing the ball better, moving it and scoring, defensive-wise and everything.”Linn-Mar didn't capitalize on several opportunities for an insurance goal because of stout play by Jefferson goalkeeper Caleb Kesterson.  Eleven minutes after surrendering the lone goal, the J-Hawk freshman smothered the ball before Comstock could fire from point-blank range.  Kesterson closed the first half with two leaping saves of Linn-Mar penalty kicks and shut the Lions out in the second half.It was a stark contrast to the 9-0 drubbing Jefferson suffered during their last visit to Linn-Mar Stadium on Apr. 4.  Jefferson ends the season at 3-15.“I think during the first game they were missing a couple of guys, key guys definitely,” Johnson said.  “Getting them back I think definitely helped them.”Linn-Mar faces fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy in a 3A substate final at noon Saturday at Kingston Stadium.“It's going to be a good game, whoever we play,” Johnson said.  “It's who we play, got to focus on the game no matter who the opponent is.”