The Hillcrest Academy boys soccer team is on the pitch for the first time in 2022 tonight when the Fort Madison Bloodhounds visit Kalona for a scrimmage. The Ravens were 9-6 a season ago, 5-5 in the Southeast Iowa Superconference, winning five of their last seven matches and appearing in the conference tournament finals. Hillcrest scored 25 goals last year and gave up 31. They are without their top three scorers from a season ago. Noah Miller led the team with nine goals in 2021, but will miss his senior season due to a knee injury. Will Kolck and John Hughes combined for 10 goals last season and have both moved on through graduation. Jorge Canchola is the top returner with three goals last year. Hughes was also the assist leader a year ago with four, the Ravens will turn to freshman Andrew Starr who had three last season. In goal, Aiden Krabill posted more than 1,100 minutes with 114 saves made and a 79% save percentage.

Fort Madison was 16-2 last year and 10-0, undefeated champions of the Southeast Conference. They were beaten 1-0 by Pella at substate. They scored 117 goals last year, second most in the state, and gave up just 16. They return 115 goals from last year, led by 33 goals from Mitchell Pothitakis and 29 each from Jacob Pothitakis and Xander Wellman. Of their state best 126 assists last season, 114 are back with Mitchell and Jacob Pothitakis and Wellman accounting for 83 of those. They return the two goalkeepers who saw the most time on the field last year with sophomore Tate Settles and Reiburn Turnbull combining for 1,200 minutes, 47 saves and a 73% save percentage. Action starts tonight at 4:30p.m. At Hillcrest Academy.