Published Friday
June 10, 2005
BY KEVIN WHITE
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

2nd-ranked Xavier routs St. Albert at state soccer

MUSCATINE, Iowa - Cedar Rapids Xavier added a few believers Thursday from the western part of Iowa.

Council Bluffs St. Albert can now vouch for Xavier's soccer ability, after the No. 2-rated defending state champions blasted the No. 8 Saintes 6-0 in a Class 1-A quarterfinal at the Muscatine Soccer Complex.

"I don't know what they use in their water, but they're awful big," St. Albert coach Randy Salyers said. "They've also got a ton of speed, and it's highly unusual to see a team with both. They were by far the better team."

Freshman Morgan Showalter and sophomore Bailey Dorrington each notched hat tricks for the Saints, who improved to 17-2 and will meet third-rated Pella in today's 4:15 p.m. semifinal. Pella used goals from Amanda Miller and Paige Nelson to oust unrated Sioux City Heelan 2-0 in another quarterfinal.

Showalter earned all-tournament honors a year ago as an eighth-grader in helping Xavier to the 1-A crown. Dorrington pushed her team-leading goal total to 31, while Showalter ranks third with 21.

The team's second-leading scorer, freshman Suzy Levett (25 goals), played sparingly before re-injuring her right quad. Xavier coach Chris Whalen said it's unlikely Levett will play the rest of the tournament, which put a damper on the victory.

But otherwise it was difficult for Xavier to complain. Sara Clancy, a 5-foot-11 junior who was the Gatorade state player of the year as a sophomore, controlled the midfield and Xavier dominated every aspect.

"Clancy and the defense did an excellent job cutting down anything St. Albert tried to do," Whalen said.

The scoreboard listed Xavier with a 41-4 advantage in shots at game's end, although several of Xavier's crossing passes were counted as shots and a few of St. Albert's shots weren't counted.

Regardless, it was a mismatch.

Xavier scored in the first minute when the Saintes' attempt to clear the ball failed, leaving Showalter one on one with goalkeeper Meghan Crowley. Showalter found the back of the net.

"That one hurt the most," Salyers said. "We came out really slow and lethargic. That put us on our heels."

St. Albert (13-7) battled through the next 38 minutes to keep Xavier off the board, even though the Saints were peppering Crowley with shots. But the dam broke in the final two minutes, when Dorrington and Showalter each scored to make it 3-0 at the half. Showalter's goal came with 8.4 seconds before the intermission.

Xavier scored twice in the first nine minutes of the second half to make it 5-0. Both came on nifty crosses by Ali Schmitt, with Showalter punching in the first one and Dorrington heading in the second one.

Salyers didn't fault his team's effort.

"We were kind of outclassed and outgunned at times, but we never quit," he said.

Salyers said the game illustrated the difference between a team that gets players from good feeder teams and one that doesn't. Xavier benefits from an outstanding club program in its area.

"We're trying to get a junior high club program going," he said. "You have to have a select program. We did at one time, but it dried up and went away. When they get to high school we don't have time to teach them the basic skills."

Don't mistake Salyers' comments as being unappreciative of his players. They turned a four-win season in 2004 into 13 wins and a trip to state.

"It's been a long time since I've enjoyed coaching a team this much," he said. "It's a great group of kids."


CB St. Albert.........................0 0-0
CR Xavier.........................3 3-6
• Goals: X, Showalter 3, Dorrington 3.