WEST LIBERTY, Iowa The West Liberty High School boys soccer team doesn't want a repeat of last season, or the season before that. <\/p>\n
The Comets are ready to break through to the championship game at the state tournament after two consecutive fourth-place finishes at James W. Cownie Soccer Park in the last two seasons. <\/p>\n
Defense will be a key component toward building a third state run. The Comets were in the top ten in goals scored as a team with 50, but allowed 38, tied for the most scores allowed by a Class 1A state-qualifying team last season. <\/p>\n
\"Last year's team was not very good defensively,\" West Liberty coach Mike Gunn admitted. \"We'll be a tougher defensive team this season, more physical, bigger and faster.\" <\/p>\n
To the Comets' credit, they defeated 2012 champion Waterloo Columbus, upending the No. 2 seed and one of the stingiest defensive teams in the tournament 2-1. <\/p>\n
They ran into a determined Iowa City Regina team in the semifinals, falling behind early in the first half of a 4-0 Regals victory. Regina went on to beat Dyersville Beckman 4-0 in the championship game. <\/p>\n
\"There's no reason to be that weak against their attack,\" Gunn said. \"We had enough guys in the right place but we didn't do a very good job.\" <\/p>\n
Gunn added that this will be the youngest team he's coached, but even with that youth there's plenty of experience at various levels. <\/p>\n
Two preseason standouts are first-year forwards Andres Garcia-Vargas and Martin Menjivar-Benegas. Menjivar-Benegas moved from Honduras last year and played club soccer with Garcia-Vargas. <\/p>\n
\"Andres is a very talented forward and ... also played some with an adult soccer league,\" Gunn said. \"Another freshman, [defender] Joe Baker, has played with the soccer club for years and is fast with good endurance.\" <\/p>\n
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Comets feel ready to break fourth-place barrier<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WEST LIBERTY, Iowa The West Liberty High School boys soccer team doesn't want a repeat of last season, or the season before that. The Comets are ready to break through to the championship game at the state tournament after two consecutive fourth-place finishes at James W. Continue reading