The City High boys’ soccer season kicked off on Monday, March 31, with a 3-3 draw against the Ottumwa Bulldogs. Senior Yeferson Rodriguez Mendoza led the Bulldogs, scoring all three goals, while City High’s Senior captain Jack Dancer found the net twice.
“It was nice to score the two goals, but at the end of the day, I would’ve rather won the game and had zero personal goals,” said Jack Dancer ‘25.
The Little Hawks are also looking forward to a boost with the return of starting right back Tatum Born, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury. Captain Lucas Riley remains out due to a concussion, with no set timeline for his return. Meanwhile, starting striker Teylor Salinas is expected to be back in action in two weeks. All three players are expected to make a significant impact once they rejoin the squad. Salinas, who is just a sophomore, is expecting a big second year after leading the team in goals (10) as a freshman.
Defense has been a key focus in practice this week for City High after conceding three goals in their last match. “There may be some personnel changes as well as a mindset shift,” said captain Jackson Nichols-Lindsey ’25, addressing adjustments needed in the back line.
Looking ahead, City High will face the Linn-Mar Lions at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 5 at West High. This will be Linn-Mar’s first game of the 2025 season. Senior Max Cassidy, an MIT commit, leads the Lions. Cassidy led the team last year with six goals.
