The ADM/Van Meter Boys soccer team beat Creston 3-0 in a Class 2A Substate Final Saturday in Adel, punching their ticket to the state tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
Last year, the Tigers missed out on advancing to state for what would have been the fourth consecutive season when they lost in the substate final to eventual state champion Norwalk. Any lingering negative feelings from that loss were lifted on Saturday, and now the 7th-seeded Tigers set their sights on Thursday’s first-round matchup with Cedar Rapids-Xavier, the No. 2 seed.
Fittingly, senior Derek Gushiken lead the way offensively with two goals and an assist. After spending his first three seasons on the team as a facilitator, Gushiken has transformed himself into the goal-scoring machine the Tigers needed this season. He enters the state tournament with 30 goals (tied for the third most in Class 2A) and seven assists, which is tied for the team lead.
ADM opened the scoring in the 20th minute thanks to another nifty move Gushiken. He took a long pass down the right win from Noah Bardwell, squeezed between two defenders, cut into the penalty box and slipped the ball between Creston keeper Alex Nielson and near post.
Frome there the Tigers created several scoring chances and controlled possession, testing Nielson, who made several impressive saves that kept the Panthers in the game. But Gushiken got the best of Nielson with about one minute left in the first half, sticking in a rebound off his own shot.
In the second half, ADM appeared destined to take a 3-0 lead when Daniel Finnegan scored from 25 yards out, but the goal was wiped out by an offsides call. That near-miss fired up the Panthers, who seemed energized by the call. ADM’s defense was up to the task, repelling several solid Creston attacks.
With 12 minutes to go, Gushiken iced the game, this time as a facilitator. He took a through pass from John Maher, dribbled past three defenders and slipped the ball to a wide open Matthew Obereutter, who tapped the ball in.
ADM and Cedar Rapids-Xavier will kick off at 2:35 p.m. Thursday on Field 6 at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines.