-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Webster City's Francisco Carmona scores a takeaway against Bishop Heelan in the 2A quarterfinals on Wednesday in Des Moines.
DES MOINES — The Webster City boys soccer team capped off a captivating season with a win in the quarterfinals of the Class 2A state tournament on Wednesday.
The Lynx lost 5-1 to Sioux City Heelan, but Heelan advanced to the semifinals and will face Gilbert on Friday, with the game starting at 10 a.m. at Mediacom Stadium.
Webster City (15-2 overall), the co-champion of the North Central Conference, made its second consecutive appearance at James W. Cownie Soccer Park and its first matchup with the Crusaders, who reached the semifinals last year but lost to Gilbert.
It was the final game for Lynx seniors Wolfre Lopez, Aiden Rahe, Eduardo Perez, Christian Vanda Bermudez and Francisco Arguella Chavez. Webster City, ranked No. 4 in the last poll, has won at least 10 games in each of the past five seasons and went 29-3 the past two years.
Perez scored Webster City's only goal with a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
Fifth-ranked Sioux City Heelan (15-3) has won 40 games each of the past three seasons, losing this year to No. 1 (3A) Lewis Central, top-ranked Gilbert and Sioux City West.
The Crusaders took advantage of two Webster City handballs in the opening 10 minutes of the game and earned two penalty kicks before Andres Gonzalez scored to make it 3-0 before the end of the first half.
The other 2A semifinal will feature No. 9 Perry facing Davenport Assumption.
Gilbert beat Centerpoint-Urbana 2-1 in the quarterfinals, Perry beat No. 3 Decorah 2-1 in a penalty shootout after two overtimes and Assumption beat No. 2 Glenwood 4-0.
