Girls High School Soccer Teams On Verge Of State Tournament Berth

Qualifiers for the Iowa High School Girls State Soccer Tournament will be determined tonight (Monday, June 9, 2014) with regional championship games being played across the state. One area team is guaranteed to be in the 24-team field, but as many as four could be competing for a trophy when the event begins on Thursday.

This evening's Class-1A regional championship games feature an area match-up of rated teams in Denver. Seventh-ranked Waterloo Columbus Catholic (10-4 overall) faces No. 14 Center Point-Urbana (12-4) for the right to advance to state. Neither team has allowed a goal, so far, during post-season play.

Another game featuring a rated teams will be played in Solon where the 8th-ranked Spartans are hosting 10th-ranked Gladbrook-Reinbeck. The Rebels (12-5) have won six straight games, including two of the last three by shutout. Solon (13-5) has won four of its last five games, with its most-recent loss coming against third-ranked Iowa City Regina in the regular-season finale on May 27th.

Two Northeast Iowa Conference rivals will battle for a state tournament berth in Class-2A, when Waverly-Shell Rock (17-2) hosts Decorah (6-11) in a regional title game in Waverly tonight. The Go-Hawks are seeking their 11th-straight victory. They've shutout six opponents during their 10-game winning streak and finished the regular season as the top-rated Class-2A team in the final rankings released by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

In Class-3A, unranked Cedar Falls must upset fifth-ranked Johnston on the road to earn a trip to state. The Tigers (10-8) opened post-season play with a 5-0 win over Mason City. Johnston (16-3) enters the regional title game on a roll, having won five games in a row. The Dragons' winning streak has featured four shutouts.

Tonight's regional finals all begin at 6 o'clock.