Union rolls again; 3 more goals for Powell

MUSCATINE -- Darian Powell shared a quick congratulatory hug with her two young cousins, causing her to miss her team's postgame huddle.

That's about all she missed.

Powell scored three more goals Thursday, upping her season total to 59, as third-ranked Union annihilated No. 6 Nevada, 5-0, in a Class 1A quarterfinal at the girls' state soccer tournament at the Muscatine Soccer Complex.

"We came out really strong and played our game," said Powell, whose game is scoring in a prolific manner. The sophomore has scored 129 varsity goals in her young career.

"I have huge goals," she said. "I want to play for a Division-I college, and I would love to play in the Olympics someday."

Union (21-0) advances to face No. 2 Dallas Center-Grimes (19-2) in a semifinal at 4 p.m. Friday. DCG defeated Waverly-Shell Rock, 3-1.

The Knights reached the semifinals last year, bowing to eventual champion Cedar Rapids Xavier. They'd like a rematch in Saturday's championship match.

"We're gunning for Xavier," Powell said.

Goals by Powell and freshman cousin Kylie Powell staked Union to a 2-0 halftime lead, then Darian Powell tallied twice in a two-minute span to put the game away.

Powell's first goal came from an assist by Noel Mahood, who collided with Nevada keeper Kelli Theilen after getting the ball to Powell for an easy shot.

Tori Zempel scored Union's final goal, with 20:31 left.

The action was on Union's offensive end nearly the entire way. Domination is nothing new for the Knights, who have outscored their competitors by a 127-2 margin this season.

Nevada retired at 17-4.