It’s now or never for high school boys’ soccer teams across the Hawkeye State as this year’s postseason substate tournaments get underway tonight. That includes a few area Class 1A teams facing tough challenges away from home if they wish to survive and advance.
Sigourney-Keota will be the home team on the scoreboard but will need to beat Centerville in Donnellson tonight if they want to get to the 1A Substate 6 semifinals. SK started the season 6-2 but stumbled with three straight losses after. A bounce-back win over WACO has Sigourney-Keota at 7-5, led by seven goals from senior Ty Shafranek and six from senior Jack Clarahan. SK also leans on stingy defense, with every victory this season being a shutout.
The aforementioned WACO Warriors wrapped up their inaugural regular season with a record of 4-8. Sophomore Keiran Luitjens and freshman Tristan Luitjens have led the Warriors by combining for 10 goals and nine assists, while junior goalkeeper Colton Leichty is closing in on 100 saves and had 21 stops in a 1-0 win two weeks ago against Hillcrest Academy. WACO faces Danville in the first half of a 1A Substate 5 doubleheader tonight in Columbus Junction. The hosting Wildcats will face Wapello in the other first-round match.
The Highland Huskies got their only win of the regular season in their last game, ending an 0-11 start by defeating Wapello 4-2. Despite facing plenty of chances from the opposition, Highland junior Jackson Keller has stopped nearly 75 percent of shots faced and has 93 saves. The Huskies face Prince of Peace of Clinton in the first round in Substate 4.