116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Home / Sports / Iowa High School Sports / High School Soccer
Center Point-Urbana girls’ soccer expects challengers
Wamac Conference race is going to be one battle after another
Ryan Pleggenkuhle
Apr. 14, 2024 2:57 pm, Updated: Apr. 23, 2024 3:11 pm
SOLON — It was a hard-fought win for Class 1A’s ninth-ranked girls’ soccer team against a challenging Wamac Conference opponent on the road.
It was the type of victory Center Point-Urbana Coach Kevin Schmidt hopes will prove beneficial as the season progresses.
Regulation wasn’t enough to determine a victor last week. Neither were two overtime periods — nor were five penalty kicks.
Finally, on penalty kick No. 6, CPU goalkeeper Emerson Fleming blocked Solon’s shot and Addy Tupa followed it up with the walk-off winner at Spartan Stadium.
“As soon as I felt that ball hit my hand, I was happy,” Fleming said. “I was nervous, but I knew what I needed to do.”
“I tried to have as much confidence as I could, and I know my team had confidence in me, so I just went up with the mindset that I can do it,” Tupa said. “I visualized it going in, and just stepped up. It was a good, strong kick.”
This is life in the Wamac these days.
“The Wamac is definitely stepping up its atmosphere and producing good teams that are very competitive — it gets better and better every year,” Schmidt said. “I mean, I would love to have teams just roll over and let us win, but we also want competition that prepares us for regionals and state.”
The Stormin’ Pointers wouldn’t have been in position to extend Thursday’s match to overtime if it weren’t for Emily Bowe’s first-period goal.
With 8:18 left, Bowe had her penalty kick saved but followed her shot for the rebound and putback, tying the game at 1-1.
After leading the team in goals in 2023, Thursday’s goal was only her second this season.
“Toward the end of last year, we shifted (Bowe) back to that center-attacking midfield and dropped her out of the forward role,” Schmidt said. “She’s a great ballhandler, really can control that middle part of the field, and that's what we need out of our number 10. She's really that feeder.”
After being a first-team all-conference and all-district player last season, Bowe has adjusted to her position well, leading the team with four assists.
“I feel like when I was in the nine, I didn't get the ball as much,” Bowe said. “Now I feel like when I get the ball, I can help my teammates so they can score.”
One of those teammates is sophomore Lily Miller, who leads CPU with seven goals.
“She's (Miller) been playing amazing,” Bowe said. “She's such a hustler. I love her work ethic. And she's always in the right place at the right time.”
“Those two in the middle, with Lily being our striker, they work very well together,” Schmidt said. “They're both extremely good. If they can get the little ping-pong going with the ball and get it past that last defender, they can pretty much outrun them and get the great opportunities they've had so far this year.”
At 3-0, ranked No. 9 with a plus-15 goal differential, it’s not far-fetched to think the Stormin’ Pointers will get their opponents’ best effort every match.
“It’s a great position to be in at this point in the season,” Schmidt said. “It’s a good reminder of what we’ve worked at. It also does put a bit of a target on our back. People want to knock us off that spot, so we have to bring our best game for everybody.”
CPU’s next contest will be another Wamac road battle against Mount Vernon (4-4) on Tuesday.