Iowa City West will be looking to win another state soccer title when the boys’ state tournament begins Friday in Des Moines. The Trojans are 18-2 on the season and will go up against Mississippi Valley Conference rival Cedar Rapids Washington in Friday night’s opening round.
West coach Brad Stiles says they are not approaching the tournament as defending champs. He says they look at each year differently after learning from winning in 2000 and then defending in 2001.
The teams met once during the regular season and the Trojans claimed a 1-0 win. Stiles says it was on a Saturday and on a rainy day on an enormous field. He says they’ll try to keep the ball on the ground. The tournament begins Friday afternoon with the opening round in class 1A.