Tuesday night the Hillcrest Academy Raven boys soccer team dropped their first Southeast Iowa Superconference contest of the year, falling to the Mediapolis Bulldogs 3-0 in Kalona. Despite controlling action early, the Ravens found the post twice instead of the back of the net and it was MEPO that took a 1-0 lead into the break. The Bulldogs added two insurance goals in the second half to finish the win. The Ravens ended the night with six total shots, four on goal, and two corner kicks. Kyle Neuschwander finished with seven saves in goal for Hillcrest. The loss drops the Ravens to 8-2 on the year and 6-1 in the Superconference as Mediapolis stays alive in the league race at 6-2 in second place.

Hillcrest can lockup the outright Superconference title tonight with a win over Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union. On the season, the Ravens have outscored their opponents 38-9 with 199 shots, 119 on goal, 43 corner kicks, 31 assists and 54 saves with an 86% save percentage. Individually, Micah Gerber has the team lead with a dozen goals, Rowan Miller is second with eight. Seth Ours has a team best eight assists, Gerber is second with five, and in goal, Neuschwander has 32 saves and an 87% save percentage.

Columbus is 2-6 overall, 2-3 in league play, winners of back-to-back matches over WACO and Burlington Notre Dame. Against the Nikes, the Wildcats trailed 2-0 at half before rallying for a 4-2 victory with two goals each from Fernando Erazo and Sachiel Villagrana, an assist for Bryan Tlatenchi and six saves in goal for Leo Corona. This season, the Wildcats have been outscored 32-9 in total. Individually, two Wildcats have scored this season, Erazo has five goals, Villagrana four, Juan Inarritu-Cruz and Tlatenchi each have two assists, and Corona has 41 saves in goal with a 56% save percentage.

These two teams have split their last eight meetings, with Columbus winning a season ago 2-1. It’s also Senior Night for the Ravens as they honor Mason Swartzendruber.

Action starts tonight at 5p.m. at Hillcrest Academy.