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Big Stage

Last Wednesday, the majority of the Webster City boys’ soccer team entered brand new territory. For only the second time in school history, the Lynx lifted a state qualifying banner and a trip to the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines.

Now, the true test awaits.

At 1:10 p.m. today at Field 8, the No. 4 Lynx will face off against a battle hardened Nevada squad in the Class 2A State Quarterfinals.

The winner between the Lynx (14-1) and the Cubs (15-4) will go on to play the winner of top-ranked Davenport Assumption and eighth-seeded Perry in the state semifinals, slated for 1 p.m. on Thursday at Field 9 within the Cownie Soccer Complex.

According to Craig Signorin, WCHS head boys’ soccer coach, to make some noise down in Des Moines, the Lynx will have to become one.

“It takes all 11 players working together,” Signorin said. “We have to trust in one another, and play with effort. When they put it all together, like how they played against (Hampton-Dumont-CAL), they can play with anyone.”

The Lynx are a relatively young group, boasting just six seniors. However, they have been balanced, with a combination of senior Everardo Hernandez, sophomore Eric Calles Torres or freshman Magdiel Magdelano feeding touches to sophomore Eddy Fuentes Cruz and Eduardo Perez.

Fuentes Cruz is fourth in Class 2A in goals scored, putting 24 shots into the back of the net. Perez is tied for sixth best in the classification with 22 goals. Perez also leads Class 2A in penalty kicks, going six-for-six in attempts and kicks made.

Leading up to their Class 2A-Substate 2 title, the Lynx were also stout on defense, allowing just one goal down the stretch. Senior goalkeeper Jonny Magdelano, junior Aiden Rahe, senior Isaac Haule and sophomore Conner Peck have been the nucleus of that defensive front.

Going into the quarterfinals, Magdaleno and his fellow defenders have compiled five clean sheets through the spring campaign.

Coming in as the tournament’s fifth seed, Nevada shut out Knoxville, 4-0, last Wednesday at Cub Stadium in Nevada to return to Des Moines.

Following up on a Class 1A State Quarterfinal appearance last year, the Cubs are no strangers to the tournament, either, as this is their 13th overall trip.

The Cubs are spearheaded by senior Drew Robinson, who is the dynamo who makes the Nevada offense go. Thus far, Robinson has racked up 39 goals and 11 assists in 19 starts, which places him third in goals scoring throughout all classes.

Teammate Edgar Cabrera tallied nine goals and 20 assists so far this season, while senior Sam Betting has amassed four goals and 17 goals. Cabrera and Betting are the first and third among top assist creators in Class 2A.

Team-wise, the Cubs are just as high octane as the Lynx, scoring 80 total goals this season. Points-wise, the Cubs have accumulated 243 points, compared to Webster City’s 196 points.

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