DES MOINES — Center Point-Urbana managed what few Class 1A teams have in a dominant era of Davenport Assumption girls’ soccer.
A win remains elusive.
The Stormin’ Pointers became the first team to score on Assumption in the 1A postseason since the 2015 state quarterfinals, but the top-ranked Knights will play for their third straight state title after a decisive 5-1 win Friday at Cownie Soccer Park.
“It’s not that they wore us down,” CPU Co-Coach Todd Mitchell said. “They just execute, execute, execute. It’s a sight to see.”
Assumption (17-2) will meet No. 9 Sioux City Heelan (13-7) in the final at 10 a.m. Saturday. Sixth-ranked Center Point-Urbana retires at 17-5.
Friday was a rematch of last year’s state title game, a 3-0 Assumption win. In the Stormin’ Pointers’ sixth state tournament, this was the fourth time Assumption — which has claimed five of the last six 1A titles — ended their season. All three prior results were shutouts.
“I think it’s a better Assumption team than last year, to be honest,” Mitchell said. “We’re vastly improved and at the half we were in the hunt, but they’ve got so many weapons. It is amazing to watch.”
Waterloo Columbus had been the last 1A team to score on — and beat — Assumption in the postseason until CPU’s pressure on a corner kick led to a 36th-minute own goal that sliced the Knights’ lead to 2-1.
That score held until the second half, when Assumption showed off its firepower.
Sully Kelly didn’t need any help on a 54th-minute corner, sailing it directly in off the post. Less than three minutes later, Carly King rocketed home a shot from the right edge of the box for a hat trick. Denver commit Molly Gervase added a looping goal from distance in the 64th minute for the final tally.
“We realized that we’re not a team that gets scored on and it wasn’t a breakdown, it was just a fluke,” King said. “We had to realize that we’re better than that and I think it shows over the season.”
The Knights gave up a goal in only three games this season and more than one just once. Class 3A teams Cedar Rapids Washington (1-0, 3-1 PK) and Bettendorf (2-1) are responsible for their only defeats.
Center Point-Urbana got forward a number of times, but mustered one shot.
“Their ball movement, right when they pass the ball, they move right away,” CPU senior Allie Wooldridge said. “Their shots on goal are amazing. Our keeper, Lauren (Dufoe), couldn’t have done anything about those goals. They were just incredible shots.”
Friday marked the end of a storied CPU athletics career for Wooldridge, a state tournament mainstay with the basketball and soccer teams who will play basketball for Drake. The Stormin’ Pointers graduate 11 seniors, including five starters, from a group that has been at state three consecutive years.
“It’s unfortunate the way it ended, but I don’t think anybody here thinks we could have tried harder or worked harder,” Mitchell said.
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