Xavier Girls Soccer

Ives boots Saints into 2A semifinals

DES MOINES - Katie Ives did not grow up as a member of girls soccer dynasty at Xavier High School, but she certainly knew about the Saints and their amazing success as a young player in the Jefferson district.

Ives transferred from Jefferson to Xavier last year and did her part Thursday to keep the Saints in contention for an unprecedented ninth state title in a row.

Ives lofted in a free kick from about 40 yards away with 28 minutes, 51 seconds left in the second half to help Xavier blank Ankeny Centennial, 1-0, in the opening round of the Class 2A state tournament on a windy day at the Cownie Soccer Park.

Xavier (11-7) will face North Scott (17-4) in the semifinals Friday at 2:30 p.m. on Field 6.

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Berutti's goal sends Saints to state

Xavier High School soccer coach Bailey Winter had a heart-to-heart chat with senior Marisa Berutti during the second half of their Class 2A regional final Monday evening at Heco Field.

The game against 10th-ranked Pella was tied, 0-0, and Winter wanted to remind Berutti about the stakes for the third-ranked Saints and their chase for another state title.

Winter apparently said the magic words.

A few minutes later, Berutti found herself all alone with the ball about 30 yards in front of the Pella goal with the season hanging in the balance she llofted the ball over Pella goal keeper Jeannie Etnyre for the only tally of the game to give Xavier a 1-0 victory and a spot in the Class 2A state tournament Thursday.

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No.3 Saints march to regional finals

Marisa Berutti and Brylee Bastain scored goals in the first half Tuesday night as the third-ranked Xavier Saints blanked Grinnell, 2-0, in the semifinals of the Class 2A regional soccer tournament at Xavier.

Bastain scored on a rebound with 6:55 left in the half. A shot by Berutti hit the goal post and Bastain was in the right place for the follow shot and the tally.

Holly Hazelton stopped three shots on goal for the shutout.

Xavier (9-7-1) will host No.10 Pella in the regional finals Monday night, with the winner earning a spot in the Class 2A state tournament.

Linn-Mar ranked No.1 in girls soccer

The Linn-Mar girls soccer team used its victory over top-ranked Bettendorf Thursday tonight to claim the No.1 spot in the Class 3A rankings Friday by the IGHSAU.

The Lions beat Bettendorf, 3-2, in overtime. The two teams traded spots in the poll, with Linn-Mar moving from No.2 to No.1 and Bettendorf heading in the opposite direction.

Linn-Mar has a 17-0 record.

There are four Metro teams in the rankings this week. Xavier is No.3 in Class 2A and Marion is No.15. Prairie is ranked No.9 in Class 3A.

CLASS 3A

1. Linn-Mar (17-0), 2. Bettendorf (15-2), 3. West Des Moines Valley (11-3), 4. Hempstead (14-2), 5. Johnston (15-3), 6. Waukee (14-3), 7. Iowa City West (14-3), 8. Muscatine (14-3), 9. Prairie (12-3), 10. Dowling Catholic (9-6).

CLASS 2A

1. Waverly-Shell Rock (16-2), 2. North Scott (13-4), 3. Xavier (8-7), 4. Dallas Center-Grimes (12-4), 5. Pleasant Valley (9-8), 6. Ankeny Centennial (10-7), 7. ADM (14-2), 8. Council Bluffs Jefferson (12-6), 9. Lewis Central (11-5), 10. Pella (11-5), 11. Ankeny (6-8), 12. Spencer (14-2), 13. Newton (12-3), 14. Winterset (11-4), 15. Marion (9-4).