Andrew Barenz (13) of Solon and Xavier's Tyler Laska (2) battle to gain control of the ball during the opening game of the Soccer Jamboree held Thursday at Kingston Stadium. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)Cedar Rapids Xavier is back in a familiar situation going into the 2012 boys soccer season. The Saints are ranked first again in the Class 2A poll and are coming off back-to-back state titles.

The Saints are no stranger to being in the spotlight and they don’t mind the expectations that come with receiving all 12 of the first-place votes by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA). Xavier has won five state titles in the past eight years and won three straight titles from 2004 through 2006, a feat they will try to match again this year.

“We got all 12 votes, so no one doubts us. It’s nice they voted us first, but preseason doesn’t mean as much as the final rankings,” Xavier Coach Amir Hadzic said Thursday during the Metro Jamboree at Kingston Stadium.

“It adds expectations. But they (Xavier's own expectations) are always high, so it is no different.”

The Saints lost a handful of scoring threats from last year but have their leading scorer back in senior Chad Gilmer.

“It is nice to have him up top,” Hadzic said. “He is a versatile player and rises up in big games.”

The experience on the Saints' lineup is impressive. Besides Gilmer, the Saints have senior Josh Steffensmeier, with three years of varsity experience; senior Logan Buschette, who will be the general in the midfield; and Tom Bales, their defensive commander with considerable varsity experience.

“We have great leadership,” Hadzic said.

Hadzic is also high on his talented group of juniors, who gained considerable varsity minutes last season. Hadzic expects a lot from them and believes they are eager and ready to take over.

Hadzic said the defense and keeper are a bit of an unknown, but said they have good numbers and will see who steps up.

As far as the Saints' own expectations, nothing has changed. The goal for the team is to get to state and once there to defend their title and win another 2A state crown.

“We will take each game one at a time, but the goal is always to get to Des Moines for state,” Hadzic said.

Xavier kicked off this year’s campaign with a 1-0 win over Solon in a 40-minute scrimmage Jamboree.

“We were able to score and control most of the action,” Hadzic said. “We also wanted to use today to try all the guys and see which younger kids could hold their own.”

Cedar Rapids Washington's Kimu Kasha (8) is stopped by Kyle Kruger of Linn-Mar (2) during a jamboree match held at Kingston Stadium on Thursday. The Warriors scored early in the match and held on for a 1-0 win over the Lions.(Photo by Ken Gilchrist)Gilmer scored in the 19th minute for the Saints.

The rest of the Jamboree didn’t go as smoothly for the Metro teams in their season kickoff scrimmages.

The Class 3A fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Washington Warriors were the only other Metro school to pick up a win. The Warriors scored in the first three minutes and held on to beat Linn-Mar, 1-0.

The Metro's other ranked teams fell as 3A sixth-ranked Kennedy lost to Iowa City High, 1-0. Class 2A 16th-ranked Marion dropped its scrimmage to Mount Vernon, 2-1.

Cedar Rapids Prairie battled Iowa City West but surrendered a goal in the last minute to lose, 2-1, in its first action with returning coach Curt Lewis. Lewis led the program for eight years before stepping aside last season.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson struggled because many of its players on spring break and was beaten, 2-0, by Iowa City Regina.