Quick Glance at the State Tournament Seeds:
Who is the odds on favorite to bring home the Cup on Saturday afternoon?  It is a pick em’.  This is the deepest field ever to converge in Muscatine for a Class 1A State Tournament, and any one of these teams could walk away next Saturday with the Cup.  For all the mathletes out there, when the State Tournament pairings were announced, every team in the final rankings in the top eight made the tournament.  Outstanding teams, of which 5 out of the 8 are Catholic Schools, which should make for some great drama on the pitch.

How the State Tournament Draw matches up with the Final Regular Season Rankings on May 24, 2012?

#1-Davenport Assumption---#1 ranking
#8-Center Point-Urbana-#8 ranking

#4-Giblert-#4 ranking
#5-Nevada-#5 ranking

#2-Waterloo Columbus Catholic-#2 ranking
#7-Saint Albert Catholic-#7 ranking

#3-Sioux City Bishop Heelan-#3 ranking
#6-Iowa City Regina-#6 ranking

Quick Glance at the Waterloo Columbus Catholic Sailors:
The Waterloo Columbus Catholic Sailors Girls Team will attempt to replicate this Saturday what the Sailors boys team did this past Saturday, win a Class 1A Soccer Championship.  The Sailors come in to the Thursday match with an unblemished 19-0 record.  The Sailors have faced tough competition this year, as they have victories over #6 Iowa City Regina (10-nil), two wins over #12 Clear Creek-Amana (6-1 and 7-nil), #8 Center Point-Urbana (4-2), #10 Denver (2-nil), and #15 Hudson (3-nil).  A very impressive resume indeed.  Compare this to a 16-4 Saint Albert Saintes team that has beaten #14 Tri-Center (7-1 and 9-2), #9 2A Lewis Central (2-1), #10 2A ADM (2-nil), and #8 Center Point-Urbana (2-1).  Two of the Saintes losses came to #3 2A Glenwood (1-2) and #3 Sioux City Bishop Heelan (1-2).

The Sailors have 131 goals on the season, which averages to almost seven per game, which is an absolutely ridiculous amount of goals.  The dynamic trio of Lindsay McManus (29 goals), Ashlee Sinnott (29), and Kate Letkewicz (20 goals) make up the most formidable front line of forwards in Class 1A this season.  They have 345 shots on goal this season, which averages to 18 shots per game.  Compare this to the Saintes, who have the top goal scorer still playing in Class 1A, Allison Cox, whom has 46 goals on the season.  She is accompanied on the front line by Felicia Roppe, Faye Assman, and Jen Rew.  The Saintes have taken 314 shots on goal this season, which averages to 16 shots per game.  Needless to say, if the offenses rule the day, then the score may look more like a football game then a futbol match.

Not to be overshadowed by the Sailors offensive output this season, the Sailor defense is the best in Class 1A.  They have allowed three goals on the season.  Let me repeat that so you know that you didn’t read that wrong…..they have allowed three goals on the season.  Not only is this mind boggling, but they have allowed only 30 shots on goal.  That is lock tight defense that has never been seen before coming into a State Tournament.  Compare that to the Saintes who have given up 20 goals on the season, and have faced 115 shots.  They contained the top goal scorer in Class 1A, Kaylee Grote (49 goals), to just one goal in two matches this season.  As good as the Sailor defense has been, there is not a better keeper in the entire State Tournament than Katie Kuck, and going to battle every match with a defense that has Nevada Meis, Karissa Herrington, Libby Mattingly, and Jenny Daley will get you great success.  The Saintes defense is tough as nails.

Outlook:
What does this all mean?

The Saintes are used to playing in Muscatine, and look to cherish the last year the tournament is played in the river town before heading back to Des Moines next year.  The Saintes have played on the State Tournament pitch two out of the last three years, and three out of the last four; play Class 2A and 3A schools on continuous basis in soccer and every other sport; many of the girls played on the big stage for the State Volleyball Tournament this season; and the Saintes have played some great competition all season long.  Nothing fazes this group of Saintes, who expect to win every time they lace up the cleats and step onto the pitch.

Saintes 4-3 in a thriller.