Cedar Rapids Xavier senior Annie Dale and Cedar Rapids Prairie senior Rachel Carney met as opponents in their season opener Tuesday afternoon.

The next time the two share time on a soccer field it will be as teammates next year at the University of Northern Iowa where they have both signed letters of intent.

When they take the field in the Panther purple and gold it will be the first time the two electric players have joined forces and the pair is excited about the idea.

“I’m excited,” Carney said. “We have talked a little about next year and we are both excited about it.”

“It will be fun to play with her (Carney),” Dale added.

Both players have great respect for each other and appreciate the others talents on the field.

“She is really good. She has a great presence on the field and is very skilled in the air with her head,” Carney said of Dale’s abilities.

“I have great respect for her, she works very hard,” Dale said of Carney. “She is very quick.”

The future Panthers aren’t looking past their senior year and have similar goals of going to state.

“Our one goal is to get to state,” Carney said. “It is what we want more than anything.”

Dale has a bit bigger expectations saying, “It would be a huge failure not to win state. Not just to this class but to everyone else who is a part of the streak.”

Xavier has won six straight state girls soccer titles.

The season started well for Dale and her teammates as they got the best of Carney and the Hawks with a 4-0 win.

It took the Saints a little over 26 minutes to strike, despite controlling the ball the whole first half.

The Saints' top goal scorer from last year, Kayla Armstrong, put one in the back of the net after receiving a through ball from Marissa Berutti.

All went well for the 2A top-ranked Saints, except for what appeared to be a knee injury to junior Lucy Martin.

Xavier put three more goals past the Hawks' keeper to control the second half. Lauren Konchar blasted in two free kicks for goals before Dale hooked up with Armstrong for a header on a cross to cap off the scoring.

“Kayla and I met two or three years ago,” Dale said. “It helps to have returning starters up top. We work well together.”

Prairie has their home opener Saturday morning against Center-Point Urbana. Xavier hosts Waterloo West next Tuesday.

CR Xavier 4, CR Prairie 0
Goals: CRX – Armstrong 2, Konchar 2. Assists: CRX – Berutti, Dale