When the schedule comes out each season, there are some dates on the calendar that get circled immediately. Tonight is one of them for the Mid-Prairie boys soccer program. This evening, the Hawks travel to Iowa City, and put their No. 1 state ranking on the line against arch rival No. 12 Iowa City Regina.

Mid-Prairie is unbeaten at 9-0. They have occupied the top spot in every Class 1A poll issued by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association this season. Last time out, Mid-Prairie withstood miserable weather and a pair of lightning delays to take a 5-3 Senior Night win Friday over visiting Cascade in Wellman. For the year, the numbers are gaudy for the Hawks. They have outscored their opponents 52-4 in total, including seven defensive shut outs. Mid-Prairie has the best scoring defense in 1A, giving up just .4 goals per game, they are second in the state with 175 shots on goal, third with 304 total shots, fourth in team save percentage and fifth with 145 combined points. Individually, Jack Pennington has the team lead with 10 goals. Owen Trimpe has a team best 10 assists, that total is seventh in Class 1A. Justice Jones has an 88% save percentage in goal, fifth best for keepers with at least 300 minutes on the line. He is third in Iowa, allowing just four goals, for those with at least 300 minutes played.

Iowa City Regina is 6-6 on the year and ranked No. 12 in Class 1A in this week’s edition of the poll. They played a three match tournament last weekend, dropping 2-1 and 1-0 decisions to Dyersville Beckman and Burlington, Notre Dame respectively before rebounding with a 4-0 victory over St. Albert. The Regals have outscored their opponents 29-23 on the season and collected four defensive shuts outs. Individually, Kaleab Wendy has a team best nine goals, Jack Hoover leads the Regals with five assists and in goal Dylan Vittetoe has allowed 16 goals with a 62% save percentage. Regina has won five of the last six in the series including a 6-2 victory in 2021. Mid-Prairie’s last win came in April of 2015. Action starts tonight at 5:30 in Iowa City.