State Soccer Tourney features more experience

As the state high school soccer tournament gets ready to begin on Friday, the state’s coaches continue to see increased interest in the game as well as level of play. Sioux City North is in the class 2A field for the third consecutive season and will play Cedar Rapids Washington in Friday’s Quarterfinals. George Tsiobanos started the North program back in 1987.Tsiobanos says kids are playing a competitive level of soccer at a younger age.Davenport Assumption will be in search of a second straight class 1A state title this weekend. Assumption coach Dave Draxner says as the sport spreads to more schools the competition becomes stronger. And Draxner has seen to growth of the game with his own team. You are allowed a 22-player roster and Draxner says his team has more depth than in previous years.Assumption opens the 1A tournament on Friday against Sioux City Heelan.