The Wright County boys soccer team held on in a rainy defensive battle for a 2-1 win over Iowa Falls-Alden in a Class 3A Substate 6 first round match on Tuesday, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ.
Each defense held their ground in the first half to reach halftime with a scoreless tie. Early in the second half, Wright County was given a free kick inside IFA’s 25 yard line following a yellow card issued to the Cadets. Santiago De Leon Juarez netted the free shot for the first goal of the night and a Wright County 1-0 lead. The Cadets scored the equalizer on a rebound putback goal by Gavin Wachal with 16:14 to go. Less than 30 seconds later, IFA on a Wright County attack in the goalie box committed a foul, setting up a penalty kick. De Leon Juarez fired in the PK for his second goal of the night to give Wright County a 2-1 advantage.
Wright County Sophomore De Leon Juarez on his standout performance.
“Amazing. I feel like I did everything for my team and I left everything on the field,” De Leon Juarez. “I was just nervous because I had the first one and I had another one. I was just praying to God, please let me take this goal and I got it and the penalty too, same thing. We all stay as a family, we fight as a family and we win as a family.”
Wright County Head Coach Ethan Krogman notes the job is not done.
“A testament to the defense, we got some veterans on that whole back line and that’s why this is a surreal moment. It’s also a moment that isn’t finished yet. For those people on the defense and even as the whole team, it’s the next one now, Dallas Center-Grimes.”
IFA after graduating senior captain Logan Mourlam will return a majority of its roster next season, including captains Ty England and Owen Penning.
Iowa Falls-Alden Head Coach Jake Kaune on how far the team has come in his first season.
“More people playing with confidence. I have more boys just enjoying being out there on the field and actually battling with their brother alongside them. I’m really impressed by the very basic fundamentals and the team aspect that we’re throwing out there on the field,” says Kaune. “I’m just really proud of the boys of what we did this season, even though it might not look like much on our record. If you just came to our first practice, to one of our practices now, it’s just night and day. I’m just ecstatic for next year, looking forward to that.”
Wright County (4-9-2) will travel to #1 (3A) Dallas Center-Grimes for the next round on Tuesday, May 27th, a match that will air on 104.9 KLMJ. Iowa Falls-Alden concludes its season at 0-13-2.
