Kennedy Boys Soccer

Christiansons carry Cougars again

Garet Christian scored three goals and brother Gabe added another to lead third-ranked Kennedy past North Scott, 5-1, Saturday in boys soccer.

Kennedy (2-0) has outscored its first two opponents by a combined 16-1. Garet Christianson has scored eight goals. Gabe Christianson has six assists.

North Scott is 2-2-1.

Kennedy 5, North Scott 1

Goals -- CRK: Garet Christianson 3, Gabe Christianson, Sho Takaoka; NS: Bryce Sellars. Assists -- CRK: Riley Galbraith 2, Gabe Christianson, Alex Busbee, Cameron Milks.

Cougar boys trounce Hempstead

Garet Christianson poured in five goals and Nolan Butler collected three Thursday as Cedar Rapids Kennedy buried Dubuque Hempstead, 11-0, in a Mississippi Valley Conference soccer match at Kennedy.

Gabe Christianson, J.D. Ruzicka and Tyler Pape also scored for the third-ranked Cougars, who were playing their season opener.

Kennedy was credited with 21 assists on its 11 goals. Gabe Christianson had five assists, Cameron Milks three, Trask White two and Pape two. Nine other Cougars had one assist apiece.

Ben Feltes got the shutout in goal.

Cougars ranked third in 3A preseason poll

Defending state champion Xavier is ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 2A in the preseason boys soccer poll released by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association.

The Metro has three teams ranked in the top 15 in Class 3A. Kennedy is No. 3, Washington No. 6 and Linn-Mar No. 15.  Prairie was among the teams receiving votes.

Defending state champion Iowa City West and intracity rival Iowa City High are ranked 1-2 in Class 3A.  The Trojans beat the Little Hawks in last year's state title game.  Kennedy was third.  Seven of the eight teams that qualified for last year's state tournament are ranked in the top eight.

Despite graduating three first team all-staters, Xavier received all nine first-place votes in the 2A poll.  Mississippi Valley Conference foe Dubuque Wahlert is ranked No. 2. The Saints beat Wahlert in last year's championship game.

Defending champion Iowa City Regina is No. 1 in 1A.

IHSSCA TOP 15
(First-place votes in parentheses)

Class 3A

1. Iowa City West (8), 2. Iowa City High, 3. C.R. Kennedy, 4. W.D.M. Valley, 5. Ankeny, 6. C.R. Washinhton, 7. Johnston, 8. D.M. Roosevelt, 9. Bettendorf, 10. Pleasant Valley, 11. Urbandale, 12. Cedar Falls, 13. Muscatine, 14. Ames, 15. Linn-Mar.

Others receiving votes -- W.D.M. Dowling, Sioux City East, C.R. Prairie, D.M. Hoover.

Class 2A

1. C.R. Xavier (9), 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 3. Decorah, 4. Sioux City Heelan, 5. Glenwood, 6. Norwalk, 7. Keokuk, 8. Knoxville, 9. Ballard, 10. A-D-M, 11. (tie) Hudson and Grinnell, 13. Harlan, 14. Spencer, 15. Pella.

Others receiving votes -- Dallas Center-Grimes, Fairfield.

Class 1A

1. Iowa City Regina (7), 2. Fort Madison Holy Trinity, 3. Council Bluffs St. Albert, 4. Solon, 5. Gilbert, 6. Iowa Mennonite, 7. Waterloo Columbus, 8. Dyersville Beckman, 9. Clear Lake, 10. Unity Christian, 11. Albia, 12. (tie) Bondurant-Farrar and Burlington Notre Dame, 14. Oakland Riverside, 15. Postville.

Others receiving votes -- Monticello, Cono Christian, Tri-Center Neola, D.M. Christian.

Christianson brothers boost Kennedy soccer

The rebuilding effort should be a quick one for Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

The Cougars graduated seven starters off last year's boys soccer team, which finished third at state after losing in the semifinals to two-time undefeated state champion Iowa City West.

“I think the seniors need to step it up and take leadership roles more,” said senior Shane Glenn.

Even with their departed leaders from last season, the Cougars are convinced they can be competitive again this season. They have five players coming back that either started or played as much as the starters.

Kennedy also will be receiving a boost from a somewhat unexpected source this season. Gabe and Garret Chistianson, a junior and senior, respectively, have decided to go out for the team. The Christianson brothers have not played high school soccer, although they are both accomplished club players.

“They are both really offensive-minded players and are really good at going forward and attacking creatively,” said senior Matt Peak.

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