Lions top Beckman Catholic for third place finish at State

  The Clear Lake boys soccer team earned a third place finish at the Class 1A State Soccer Tournament which concluded Tuesday, June 10, at the Cownie Soccer complex in Des Moines.

The Lions faced Beckman Catholic, Dyersville (20-2) in the third place match Tuesday morning. The game was postponed due to inclement weather Saturday. The Lions defeated last year’s runner-up, 2-1.
“Going into the match, I challenged the boys to finish with a win. Only the first and third place teams get to finish the season with a win, so it’s a pretty significant accomplishment,” said Coach Matt Anderson.
Ernie Miszewski gave Clear Lake a 1-0 lead early in the contest with Beckman tying the game in the 27th minute. Antonio DiMarco then scored what turned out to be the game-winner in the 38th minute.
Clear Lake concluded the season with a 17-4 record. Their only losses of the regular season were to Webster City and twice to the top-ranked team in Class 2A, Waverly-Shell Rock. They fell in the State semi-finals to defending State Champion Iowa City Regina, 2-1.
“At the end of the day it came down to a team of guys believing in each other and a willingness to work harder than most. I’m extremely prout of this group of young men,” said Anderson.