Brian Halligan/Muscatine Journal Muscatine High School's Jordan Walgren (25) congratulates McKenzie Irwin after Irwin scored the opening goal on Walgren's rebound midway through the first half of the Class 2A regional semifinal soccer match Friday at the Muscatine Soccer Complex.

MUSCATINE, Iowa – When No. 12 Muscatine got its opportunities, it took full advantage of them.

The Muskies needed to because, at least in the first half, Iowa City High dominated the ball offensively in this Class 2A regional semifinal at the Muscatine Soccer Complex.

The Little Hawks out-shot the Muskies 24-20 in the game and 14-9 in the first half, but Muscatine walked away with the 3-0 victory after leading 1-0 at the half.

 The way City High was playing concerned Muscatine coach Osama Shihadeh.

“I think so,” Shihadeh said. “The first 15 minutes, they won the majority of the balls – they were a little more aggressive. But we got back to our game midway through the first half and started playing better.”

But for all of City High’s dominance early on, once Muscatine got possession of the ball, the Muskies used it to their advantage.

On just the Muskies’ fourth shot of the game, an aggressive one from just past midfield by Jordan Walgren, hit the crossbar. McKenzie Irwin knocked the rebound into the right side of the net at 21 minutes, 21 seconds into the match.

“That’s what we’ve been preaching and practicing,” Shihadeh said. “You can’t score if we don’t take shots on goal. When we take shots, quality shots, good things are going to happen.”

City High’s first shot on goal was one of its best, as the ball hit the top of the crossbar and ricocheted away where Muscatine’s defense cleared it.

“We had our opportunities,” City High coach Teesa Vitense said. “I thought we dominated the first half, but they capitalized on the opportunities they had. We had more, but they punched it in. We had trouble with their offsides trap – we hadn’t seen it.”

Muscatine’s offsides trap drew the Little Hawks offsides a total of six times, but it could have been a lot more, particularly in the first half.

“All three of our defenders were excellent throughout,” Shihadeh said. “They trapped the offsides and defended the goal well. Between them and the goalie (Whitney Brauns) we held them to a zero-goal effort.”

Muscatine’s two second-half goals put the match away as Walgren found the back of the net at 52:37 and Julie Wunder was assisted by Katie Chambliss at 61:35.

“Their defense was tough,” Vitense said of Muscatine. “I thought with our speed we’d be able to get through.”

City High also dominated in corner kicks, putting up 11 to just one for the Muskies. Muscatine had five free kicks to two for the Little Hawks.

Muscatine goalie Whitney Brauns finished with 12 saves, six in each half. City High goalie Brooke Quigley came up with nine saves.

“I think our subbing in and out wore them down,” Shihadeh said. “We used everyone to their potential, everyone contributed, everyone picked up where their teammate left off on the field.

“It left our opponent just playing kickball. It was a good effort from our players.”

The win sets up a regional final at 6 p.m., Monday against Pleasant Valley at the Muscatine Soccer Complex.

The seventh-ranked Spartans were 3-1 winners over Davenport North on Friday. Muscatine lost 3-2 to the Spartans on Thursday,   May 15.

“We look forward to playing them,” Shihadeh said.

Reporter contact information:

Kristi Nixon 563-262-0533

kristi.nixon@muscatinejournal.com

Muscatine 3

Iowa City High 0

Iowa City High 0 0 – 0

Muscatine 1 2 – 3

Scoring

Iowa City High (0) – None.

Muscatine (3) – McKenzie Irwin (unassisted), 21:21; Jordan Walgren (unassisted), 52:37; Julie Wunder (Katie Chambliss), 61:35.

Offsides – Iowa City High 6, Muscatine 0.

Free kicks – Iowa City High 2, Muscatine 5.

Corner kicks – Iowa City High 11, Muscatine 2.

Cards – None.

Goalkeepers – Iowa City High, Brooke Quigley (20 shots, 9 saves, 3 goals); Muscatine, Whitney Brauns (24 shots, 12 saves, 0 goals).

Records – Iowa City High 8-10, final; Muscatine 10-5.

Next match – Pleasant Valley vs.  Muscatine at Muscatine Soccer Complex,      6 p.m., Monday.