For the second year in a row the City High men’s soccer team will face Linn-Mar in a substate matchup with both teams looking for a chance to advance to the state tournament and keep their season alive. 

Earlier in the season, City lost to Linn-Mar in a rainy matchup 2-0. Since the loss the team has won their last three games straight and look ready to go back to the same stadium they lost in two weeks ago. 

“We know that we need to make changes to get the result that we want and keep our season going,” Josh Borger-Germann ‘25 said.

If City can get past Linn-Mar in the first round that will leave them with a substate final matchup against Cedar Rapids Kennedy who only had one loss on the season and that loss came from the Little Hawks. The other possibility would be Davenport Central if they defeat the one seed. 

“I feel like this team has a lot of experience especially with a lot of the older guys on the team who have been in these tougher positions and that’s what’s going to help get us to state,” Tatum Born ‘25 said.

Emmit Hansen ‘23 leads the team in goals and assists with five goals and five assists this season and coming in second is Alima Mmunga ‘23 with four goals and four assists this season. The loan starting freshman Ben Borger-Germann ‘26 has 36 saves this season with a 76% save percentage on the year.

On the other hand, the stat leaders for Linn-Mar are mostly underclassmen. Leading Linn-Mar in goals and assists is Max Cassidy ‘25 with four goals and five assists. Linn-Mar’s goalie has 55 saves on 79% save percentage. Linn-Mar finished the regular season 10-7 while City High finished the regular season 7-6. 

In their last game of the season, the Little Hawks handily beat Cedar Rapids Washington to gain some confidence going into their playoff game against Linn-Mar.