Nevada boys soccer poised for first Iowa state tournament since 2018

NEVADA — Nevada would not wish to let this momentum subside.

After getting upset by Marion within the Class 2A substate semifinals final yr, the Cubs are again all the way down to Class 1A this yr. They began the season off gradual, dropping two of their first 4 matches, however then reeled off six wins in a row.

The recent streak earned Nevada the No. 11 rating in 1A by the Iowa Excessive College Soccer Coaches Affiliation. However the Cubs misplaced to a Dallas Heart-Grimes group, rated fourth in 2A, final Thursday by a 4-1 rating then break up two video games throughout the Nebraska versus Iowa Border Battle Saturday on the Gale Wickersham Athletic Advanced in Council Bluffs.

With two losses in three video games, Nevada wanted to show the tide so as keep away from a hunch and keep in place to make a run at state.

On Monday, Nevada took a giant step towards getting its groove again with a 2-1 shootout victory over a Perry group ranked ninth in 2A at Cub Stadium in Nevada.

“Tonight was a troublesome one,” Cubs head coach Todd Sampson stated. “We knew it was going to be powerful coming in and I believe the fellows responded. They gave us 100 minutes of fine soccer then made the pictures on the finish to get us excessive.”

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Edgar Cabrera scored a objective with 2:45 left on the clock in regulation to tie the rating and pressure extra time.

“Generally it takes slightly bit for us to get our tempo going,” Cabrera stated. “As soon as we’re lastly in a position to make passes, we’re in a position to get pictures and, the extra we get off, it’s inevitable we’ll lastly get a objective. It simply occurred to be me.” 

After two scoreless additional classes, the sport went right into a shootout, the place keeper Owen Freeman and ahead Drew Robinson got here up clutch.

Freeman deflected a shot by Jonathan Munoz on Perry’s closing try.

“I have not had a lot luck on the PK spot,” Freeman stated. “This one, clearly I did very nicely on it. It gave me plenty of confidence.”

Robinson adopted by changing his penalty kick to provide the Cubs the win after they transformed on all 5 of their PKs.

“The burden of the world simply got here off my shoulders,” Robinson stated. “I believe I used to be about to go out truthfully.”

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The Cubs (7-4) have not been to state in boys soccer since 2018. They have been knocked off by North Polk within the substate finals in 2019, missed out on a season as a result of COVID-19 in 2020 after which suffered the upset loss to Marion final yr.

They wish to return to the Cownie Soccer Park in Might and Monday’s victory was a giant step in the best course.

“There’s some drive,” Sampson stated. “Final yr was a studying expertise. I might nonetheless think about us a younger group. We’re rising and discovering our approach and the fashion of play we like.”

These youthful gamers have had time to develop at a cushty tempo due to the play of Robinson and Cabrera. The 2 juniors have mixed for 15 objectives and 9 assists.

“They’re actually a menace each time they contact the ball,” Sampson stated. “It is a luxurious to have.”

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Midfielder Kent Sponseller has 5 objectives and one help, and 5 extra Cubs have scored two objectives. Freeman can be approaching at keeper. Coming into the Perry sport, he had 42 saves and allowed 16 objectives.

“Owen has performed nicely all season,” Sampson stated. “He is nonetheless studying, which is nice. He strives to get higher each day and it was only a matter of time that he was going to get a chunk of certainly one of these (PKs) tonight and clearly he did.”

However whereas expertise is rising for Nevada, Robinson stated it is how robust the Cub gamers are between the ears that may in the end decide if they will make it again to state.

“We’re not going to win each sport off of our soccer talent,” Robinson stated. “It is all going to return all the way down to how laborious we will work. We’re taking part in two or three video games per week proper now and it is laborious on the physique. It is simply the psychological toughness. We have to maintain pushing by means of and go laborious each ball.”

The climate has additionally been an impediment this season. However the Cubs are attempting to profit from it.

“It is chilly, however typically we just like the chilly,” Robinson stated. “It simply provides to the enjoyable.”

Nevada hosts Central Iowa United Thursday then goes up in opposition to Ballard earlier than internet hosting the Nevada Invitational Might 7. The Cubs even have video games at Greene County and Grinnell to shut out the common season.

The Cubs do not plan on letting their ft off the gasoline in these closing video games. 

“We’re hitting our stride once more,” Freeman stated. “Our group is pulling collectively. We’ve got good power and the whole lot we have to get by means of to state, and hopefully win it.”