For the first time since 2014, the Glenwood’s boys are headed to the Iowa State Soccer Tournament.
The Rams got a goal from Nolan Clark just four minutes into the game and it’s all they would need – although they would add three more goals for good measure – in a 4-0 victory over Carroll in the Class 2A substate final at the Glenwood Athletic Complex last Wednesday.
The Rams (14-4) opened state play today against Davenport Assumption (10-7) at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines. Kick-off is set for 1:30 p.m.
In the substate final, the Rams came out aggressive and dominated possession from the opening kick. Nolan Clark’s goal four minutes into the game followed by another by Virginio Rangel Gonzalez’s a minute later all but ended the Tigers’ upset hopes.
“That second goal, you could see their heads really drop,” said Glenwood coach Cort Lovato. “It really deflated them. I think they thought they could play with us and after 10 minutes it was obvious it wasn’t going to go their way.”
The Rams were well connected offensively in the first half, allowing the midfield to play balls right into the center of the Tigers’ defense with little resistance. Midfielders Cort Lovato Jr. and Adam Severn were able to find Gonzalez and Jace Tallmon in space.
Tallmon’s goal with 12 minutes remaining in the first half made the score 3-0 heading into intermission. Gonzalez added another goal in the second half.
“It really working out well for us right now,” he said. “The second half they man-marked Cort, so I think we’ll see that going forward so that makes it a little harder but we’re playing a lot more direct.”
Glenwood owned a 12-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Lovato, who took over as the Rams’ head coach in 2016, was an assistant on that last team to make it to state in 2014. That team went on to fall in a heartbreaking quarterfinal loss to Norwalk in a shootout.That decade long state drought and the fact the Rams’ lost in the substate finals the last two years were on Coach Lovato’s mind heading into the Carroll game.
“The thing is I remember the losses better than I do the wins,” he said. “I can tell you the scores from the 2017 games we lost. I can tell you how Lewis Central scored their two goals against us in 2022. I can tell you how Perry beat us last year.
“The weight on my mind had me overthinking so much I had to call another coach to calm me down because was overthinking everything. It wasn’t panic. I just needed to keep things simple and we did that.”
Glenwood 11,
Creston 1
Adam Severn put in five goals to lead Glenwood in a 11-1 victory over Creston in the Class 2A, Substate 8 semifinals.
The Rams built a 7-0 lead and ended it with just over 10 minutes to go according to “mercy rules” with their 11th goal.
Nolan Clark and Jace Tallmon had two goals each and Jose Diaz and Cort Lovato, Jr. both added goals. Lovato notched three assists.
 
116 S Walnut St Glenwood, IA 51534-1665
P.O. Box 377, Red Oak, IA 51566
Phone: 712-527-3191
Phone: 712-623-2566
Fax: 712-527-3193

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