The final week of the regular season ended with a 1-1 tie in non-conference action, a Senior Night 8-0 shutout win over South Tama County, and a stinging 4-0 loss to archrival Mount Vernon. While Class 2A postseason play started this week the Spartans will start the march to Des Moines Wednesday, May 27, as they face the winner of a Monday, May 18 Class 2A Substate Quarterfinal match between Fairfield and Mid-Prairie.
Solon 1 Marquette Catholic 1
The Spartans and Marquette Defenders battled 80 minutes to a 1-1 draw Monday, May 11, in Bellevue. Ethan Ulch scored in the first half and Marquette equalized in the second. Ulch took five shots in the match, four on goal, with three shots each by Tucker Spence and Ryan Locke. Will McAtee and Trendon Walker made two shots with one each by Parker Mergen, Eli Cash, and Caden Mai. Keeper Jake Grimm was credited with five saves.
Solon 8 South Tama 0
Jake Grimm, Parker Mergen, Eli Cash, Kacey Craig, Ethan Ulch, Tucker Spence, Caden Mai, Rene Meza, Tripp Johnson, Trendon Walker, Ryan Locke, and Jadyn Bevans were recognized for Senior Night Tuesday, May 12, between the girls and boys varsity matches.
Rene Meza was in the right place at the right time to give the Spartans their first goal as he took advantage of the loose ball in the box to score with 27:55 left in the first half. Ethan Ulch scored nearly seven minutes later with an assist by Tucker Spence, and Ryan Locke bombed the Trojans’ goal in the final seconds of the first half.
Spence struck about four minutes into the second half with Locke picking up his second goal of the night just about three minutes later. Spence nailed his second goal of the night with 22:49 left in the contest. Ulch also had a two-goal evening with one apiece by Kacey Craig and Meza. Spence, Mai, and Meza were credited with assists, and Jake Grimm was perfect in goal with three saves.
The win improved Solon to 8-3-5 while dropping the Trojans to 3-10.
Mount Vernon 4 Solon 1
The annual rivalry match between Solon and Mount Vernon was originally set for April 14 but was postponed to Thursday, May 14 on Cornell College’s soccer field. The Mustangs scored three times in the first half, which is when Tucker Spence scored the Spartans’ only goal of the evening with an assist by Eli Cash. Jake Grimm made six saves while allowing three goals and Tanner Kerkove manned the goal in the second half allowing one goal and making seven saves.
Overall the Spartans were held to only two shots (Ethan Ulch and Spence) during the 80-minute battle.