Prep Girls’ Soccer- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released their first rankings for the girls’ soccer season and here’s the top teams.
In Class 1A, Des Moines Christian enters the season as the favorite after falling to Gilbert in the state tournament semifinals last season. Davenport Assumption is ranked second followed by last year’s state champion, Bishop Heelan, who returns their top goal-scorer in Trelyn White as she netted 33 goals last season. The runner-up, Gilbert, rounds out the top four. Further down the list is #9 Hudson, who also qualified for the state tournament last season. Pella Chrisitan rounds out the top 15 as the Eagles downed Ottumwa 2-1 to start the season.
Last year’s Class 2A state champion, Dallas Center-Grimes, enters this season as the #1 team and for good reason; the Mustangs return their top four goal scorers including Kylie Knief and Olivia Cyr who combined for 53 goals last season. Waverly-Shell Rock was last year’s runner-up, so fittingly the Go-Hawks are ranked 2nd. The Pella Dutch are hoping that Abby Warner has another spectacular season after netting 45 goals last season as they are ranked 3rd. North Scott might have only lost to Dallas Center-Grimes by one last year in the state tournament, but the Lancers are regulated to 6th on the list.
Despite losing the first game of the postseason last year, Burlington grabbed the #15 slot. The Grayhounds finished 12-6 last year including an unblemished record in regular season play against the Southeast Conference. A big reason for their expected success is they return everyone, including Jenna Hentzel, who had an 84.9% save percentage.
For Class 3A, Valley, last year’s runner-up, holds the crown as the top team. Johnston, the defending champion, is all the way down to 5th in the rankings. Waukee Northwest is ranked 2nd after the Wolves finished 17-2 last season. Waukee is expected to make a big jump after going 8-8 last season. The Warriors return their entire starting lineup after graduating just one student-athlete from last year’s squad. Dowling Catholic, despite qualifying for state last season, enters the rankings at 9th. Iowa City High rounds out the list at #15.