Xavier Boys Soccer

Hadzic named to IHSSCA Hall of Fame

Amir Hadzic, head coach of the Xavier boys soccer program, has been selected for induction into the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony will be held Feb. 20 at the Jacobsen Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

Hadzic has served as head coach at Xavier since 2007 and has led the Saints to the 2010, 2011 and 2013 Iowa Class 2A state championships.

Hadzic's career record as a high school soccer coach is 154-87-3 (107-45-2 at Xavier; 47-42-1 at Prairie). He is a five-time Metro Coach of the Year and the 2010 and 2011 Mississippi Valley Conference Coach of the Year.

“We are excited that Coach Hadzic has been selected for induction into the Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame," said Mike Winker, Xavier Activities Director. "This is a well-deserved honor for a man who is a true winner in every capacity, is a first-class role model for our students and an excellent representative of Xavier High School. The entire Xavier community is proud of Coach Hadzic."

In addition to his head coaching duties at Xavier, Hadzic is the head men's soccer coach at Mount Mercy University.

17 Metro boys make all-state soccer

The overall strength of boys soccer in the Metro area was demonstrated by the all-state teams announced Saturday by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Seventeen Metro players were honored on the squad, including six players who were named first team all-state.

The first-team selections are Killian Magee of Kennedy, Jacob Bjornsen of Washington, Mike Eken of Washington and Jared Belin of Linn-Mar in Class 3A. Connor Ramlo of Xavier and Enoch Duval of Marion made the top unit in Class 2A.

Andrew Sheeley of Kennedy, Ben Johnson of Linn-Mar, Logan Rinderknecht of Prairie, Alexy Boehm of Linn-Mar, Ian Karr of Jefferson, Jack Ramsey of Linn-Mar, Jesse Vizzini of Prairie and Gunnar Lenzen of Washington were named second team all-state in Class 3A. Stephen Jones of Xavier and Matthew Minks of Marion were named second team all-state in Class 2A.

Nathan Althoff of Kennedy received honorable mention in Class 3A.

Saints stopped by Norwalk in semifinals

DES MOINES - Xavier Coach Amir Hadzic warned his players to keep an eye on No. 8 for the Norwalk Warriors Friday afternoon in the semifinals of the Class 2A boys state soccer tournament, but the warning went for naught.

Norwalk freshman Kason Crall got them anyway.

Crall got a perfect feed from the corner and used his head to score the only goal as second-ranked Norwalk defeated No.4 Xavier, 1-0, on a warm, sunny day at the Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines.

Crall leaped high in the goal mouth with no Xavier defenders in the way and executed a perfect header over the outstretched arms of Xavier goalie Nick Huss, who leaped as high as he could but had little time to react.

"Nick Huss was phenomenal today in our goal," said Hadzic. "He couldn't do anything to prevent that."

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Saints clip No. 1 seed Heelan in OT

DES MOINES - Jeremy Jacoby was the most relieved member of the Xavier soccer team at the Class 2A state tournament Thursday afternoon at Cownie Park in Des Moines.

Jacoby accidentally scored a goal for Sioux City Heelan to help the Crusaders stay in the match, so he was breathing a lot easier after the Saints trimmed Heelan, 3-2, in overtime on a goal by Jerry Duball.

Jacoby tried to clear the ball from the Xavier goal mouth in the second half with a header, but he inadvertently steered the ball into his own goal to let Heelan tie the game, 1-1.

"It was terrible, but it happens," said Jacoby. "But we got the win and can breathe another day."

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