Linn-Mar Boys Soccer

No. 4 Lions blank Saints, 2-0

Ben Johnson and Bobby Charlton tallied goals and senior Jared Belin posted another shutout as Class 4A No. 4 Linn-Mar rebounded from a loss to top-ranked Iowa City West by downing Xavier, 2-0, Thursday at Heco Field.

Daniel Luzindya set up Johnson on the Lions' first goal in the 26th minute of the first half.

With Xavier pushing for the tying goal in the final minute, Kevin Simon hit Darrin Eby with a long pass. Eby dropped  the ball off to Charlton, who scored the clinching goal.

The shutout was Belin's ninth this season, one shy of the school record set by Clark Anderson in 2004 Linn-Mar moves to 11-2 with the win. The loss drops Xavier, ranked No. 4 in Class 2A, to 6-6.

6 Metro teams ranked in boys soccer

Six boys soccer teams from the Metro area are ranked again this week by the IAHSSCA, but the exact spots have changed a little bit.

Four Metro teams are ranked in Class 3A with Linn-Mar No. 4, Washington No. 5, Kennedy No. 6 and Prairie No. 13.

Two Metro teams are ranked in Class 2A with Xavier No. 4 and Marion No. 13.

CLASS 3A
Records Through May 3

1. Iowa City West (11-0), 2. Johnston (12-0), 3. Iowa City High (8-1), 4. Linn-Mar (10-1), 5. Washington (6-3), 6. Kennedy (6-3), 7. Waukee (10-2), 8. Sioux City West (12-0), 9. Bettendorf (9-3), 10. West Des Moines Valley (8-2), 11. (tie) Pleasant Valley (6-2), Ankeny Centennial (8-3), 13. Prairie (5-4), 14. Marshalltown (10-1), 15. Ames (7-2), 16. Muscatine (8-4).

CLASS 2A
Records Through May 3

1. Norwalk (7-4), 2. Spencer (11-0), 3. Waverly-Shell Rock (7-1), 4. Xavier (5-5), 5. Pella (9-3-1), 6. Dallas Center-Grimes (4-3), 7. Glenwood (7-2), 8. DeWitt Central (8-2), 9. Perry (8-2), 10. Hudson (6-4), 11. Creston (9-2), 12. Clear Creek-Amana (6-4-2), 13. Marion (6-2), 14. ADM (6-5-1), 15. Davenport Assumption (5-6), 16. Webster City (7-2).

No.5 Lions trimmed by No.1 West

IOWA CITY - The fifth-ranked Linn-Mar Lions took a shot at top-ranked Iowa City West in boys soccer Tuesday night, but it resulted in a near-miss for the Lions.

Iowa City West prevailed, 1-0, in a Mississippi Valley Conference battle in Iowa City.

No. 5 Lions blank No .6 Warriors

It was a match that had Linn-Mar senior goalie Jared Belin a little worried at the half.

Belin and the Lions controlled much of the play during the first half of Thursday night’s showdown with Cedar Rapids Washington at Linn-Mar Stadium.

Linn-Mar may have dominated the possession time in the match, but it was a scoreless draw at the break.

“It’s pretty nerve-wracking as a goalkeeper,” Belin said. “Once we got that first goal, I felt a little better.”

Linn-Mar got a goal from junior Jared Slagle five minutes into the second half and junior Ben Johnson added an insurance tally in the final minute to give the Lions a 2-0 victory.

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