The Dallas Center-Grimes boys soccer team captures a spot in the state tournament in Des Moines.

The Mustangs defeated Lewis Central by a score of 4 to 2 to become the state qualifier out of the Class 3A Substate 7 bracket.

Junior Brogan Fuller got the first goal of the game from a follow off the crossbar at the 32 minute mark in the first half. Shortly after, Lewis Central answered from a goal by Brayden Shepard at the 31 minute mark in the first half to make the score (1-1). Then the Mustangs would get two unanswered goals before half from the freshman Colin Mandernach scoring a goal after a mistake by the Titans to go up (2-1) and junior Nick Kessler charged the goalie and put a deflected ball in the back of the net to go up (3-1) at the 4 minute mark in the first half. The Titans would score one more time in the second half, but the Mustangs would close the game out with a late goal from junior Brogan Fuller. Head Coach Collin Lane talks about the journey to become state qualifiers, before getting showered with a victory ice bath.

“We knew we had one of the hardest sub states out in the state. And so there’s a good chance for the team that comes out of this substate to do well at state, and that’s what we’re setting our sights on. Theme for us has been just one match for the last few years. There’s just one match we haven’t played, and that’s the state championship.”

Junior Ben Jackson told Raccoon Valley Radio Sports that losing last year to Newton in the sub-state championship game left a sour taste in the mouth.

“ I remember the feeling from freshman year and I wanted to feel it again. I think all of our guys were locked in going to this game. We had everyone step up and show up tonight and we took care of business.

The Dallas Center-Grimes girls soccer team is also one step away from being a state qualifier as they will take on Norwalk for the Class 2A Region 2 Championship tonight at 7pm in Grimes. Additionally, the baseball team is on a three game winning streak and will take Waukee Northwest for a double in Waukee this evening at 5pm and the softball team will have their home opener in Dallas Center against Waukee.