Kennedy Girls Soccer

Cougars claim 3rd title in 6 years

DES MOINES - Cedar Rapids Kennedy goalkeeper Olivia Weigel has been on the bottom of dogpiles before, so she knew exactly what to do as soon as the Cougars captured the state title at the Class 3A soccer tournament in Des Moines Saturday.

She immediately fell to the ground and covered her head as the entire team rushed toward her end of the field and piled on top of her to begin the celebration after Kennedy whipped No.4 Dubuque Hempstead, 5-2, for the crown.

"They've done that to me multiple times before," said Weigel, delighted with the state title and happy she escaped unharmed. "It's just fun. It's a good way to celebrate."

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'Trooper' Vogl boots Cougars into finals

DES MOINES - Jamie Vogl spent the entire regular season on the junior varsity for the Kennedy girls soccer team, but she's been in the thick of things for the Cougars at the Class 3A state tournament in Des Moines.

On Thursday, she banged heads in a nasty collision with Bettendorf junior Ashton Glaus and needed seven stitches to close a wound in her forehead near the hairline.

On Friday, she scored the only goal of the game as the Cougars upended No.6 Waukee, 1-0, in the semifinals at Cownie Soccer Park.

Kennedy (15-6) will face No. 4 Dubuque Hempstead (18-2) in the championship match Saturday at 4 p.m. on Field 9.

Vogl was supposed to be hosting her own graduation party Saturday at 4 p.m., but she and her teammates have other plans now. Maybe the Cougars can turn Vogl's graduation party into a state championship party as well.

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Cougars bump off No.2 Bettendorf

DES MOINES - The Kennedy girls soccer team did not panic after losing its last three games of the regular season to three ranked opponents.

The Cougars kept their cool, kept working hard and kept having fun.

Now the fun-loving Cougars have reached the semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament after booting second-ranked Bettendorf, 3-1, in the opening round Thursday at the Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines.

Kennedy (14-6) will face No.6 Waukee (17-3) in the semifinals Friday at 5 p.m. on Field 6.

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Cougars stun No.1 Lions for state berth

Kennedy’s Carly Langhurst picked the exact right time to score her very first goal of the season.

With time winding down in a do-or-die dual at undefeated and top-ranked Linn-Mar Monday night, the sophomore defender sped from one end of the field to the other and tapped in the game’s only score.

She seized the moment and sent the Cougars to the Class 3A state tournament Thursday in Des Moines at the Cownie Soccer Park.

It was an evenly contested match, played mostly 20 yards on either side of midfield, with neither team giving an inch. But with three minutes left in a scoreless tie, Langhurst fielded a free ball 70 yards from her own goal and took off dribbling downfield.

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