NEVADA — With a 4-2 win Friday over Class 1A 12th-ranked Nevada, the 2A eighth-ranked Newton High Cardinal boys wrapped up their regular season. They head into the soccer postseason on a three-game win streak.
“We played probably our worst 20 minutes of all year to start the game at Nevada and went down 1-0 within the first five minutes,” Newton head coach Zach Jensen said. “We finally woke up and got into the game.”
The Cardinals planted four goals in the net over the final 30 minutes of the first half to lead 4-1 at the break.
Senior Matthew Yeager, who had run two races for Newton at the state track meet earlier on Friday, had a hat trick in the first half. He has 22 goals for the season.
Off a free kick by senior Gavin Aalbers, Yeager scored the equalizer at the 26:28 mark. Aalbers made the connection again with a through ball to Yeager for a goal with 5:53 left in the first half.
Senior Zach Combs found the net when he took a cross from junior Taylor Greiner with 4:11 on the clock. Yeager scored off another through ball this time delivered by sophomore William Cheng with 1:44 remaining before halftime.
Jensen said the Cardinals kept the Cubs in check with the 4-1 lead until Nevada was able to get a late goal.
Senior goalkeeper Benny Cheng made seven saves against the Cubs. Newton had nine shots on goal and eight free kicks.
“We did some good things in the game once we decided to wake up and play soccer. We did see some things we need to work on as we prepare for substate play,” Jensen said.
Newton (12-5) has a first-round bye in 2A Substate 7 action. The Cardinals host the winner of Monday’s Grinnell versus Collins-Maxwell game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at H.A. Lynn Stadium.
Newton is scheduled to host the Substate 7 championship game at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
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