The No. 13-ranked Solon Lady Spartans had no trouble whatsoever with unranked West Liberty last Thursday in a Class 1A Region 1 Quarterfinals match at home, shutting out the Comets 10-0.
Jillian Janssen, a junior, put Solon on the scoreboard six minutes into the match after junior Sophia Link’s shot was blocked by the Comets’ keeper and the loose ball ended up in front of Janssen, who tapped it in to score. Teagan Zearley, a freshman, won a battle in the box ten minutes in to make it 2-0 while Link bombed the goal three minutes later for the first of her three goals on the evening. Her second score landed about two minutes later and Sofia Ortega, a senior, struck two minutes before a mandatory hydration break at the 20-minute mark.
Five minutes after the break, Link, with an assist from Ortega, got her “hat trick” with a straight shot rocketing past the keeper. Kalynn Timmons, a junior, scored with an assist by Laney Johnson (also a junior) to make it 7-0 with 10:28 left in the half. A minute or so later freshman Katherine Rolwes bombed the goal with an assist from Johnson.
The second half was shortened by the 10-goal mercy rule as Ortega scored with 38:38 on the clock, and Janssen got her second goal very shortly after. Keeper Gable Knight, a senior, took charge of the goal (relieving first half keeper senior Audrey Heineman) and was credited with three uneventful minutes in goal.
Stats
Goals – Sophia Link 3, Jillian Janssen 2, Sofia Ortega 2, Teagan Zearley 1, Kalynn Timmons 1, Katherine Rolwes 1
Assists – Laney Johnson 2, Ortega 2, Delainey Durr 1, Laeni Hinkle 1
Shots – Link 8, Ortega 7,Timmons 3, Johnson 3, Hinkle 3, Rolwes 3, Janssen 2, Zearley 1, Ellie Durr 1
Shots on goal – Link 7, Ortega 6, Timmons 3, Rolwes 3, Janssen 2, Hinkle 2, Zearley 1, Johnson 1
“It was great to have another successful win on our home turf and to be able to play all of our athletes!,” head coach Amanda Paulson said while expressing her excitement at the team advancing to the semifinals and a home match against West Branch Tuesday, June 2 (after this edition had gone to press). The Bears defeated Northeast Goose Lake 2-1 in their quarterfinals match and brought a 10-8-1 record to Tuesday’s match while Solon was at 13-3-1. The winner advanced to the Regional Championship Thursday, June 4 against either No. 1-ranked Denver (15-0-3 at deadline) or New Hampton (9-6).
State Tournament information
The 2026 Girls State Soccer Tournament is set for Monday, June 8, through Saturday, June 13, in Ames with quarterfinal and semifinal matches played at the Lied Recreational Fields on the ISU campus, and the championships to be played in the Cyclone Sports Complex.
For full details including schedule, tickets, and how to watch remotely, go to https://ighsau.org/2026-soccer-tournament-central.