This was possibly the most exciting, action packed State Cup Championship match of 2008. On Sunday, November 2nd 2008, several teams from Heartland Soccer Club competed in the prestigious Iowa State Cup competition, which is the qualifying "round" of the US Youth Regional and National Championships tournament. Heartland had four teams represented, these include; U15G Heartland Heat (semi-finalists), U15B Heartland Revolution, U16G Heartland Fire (semi-finalists), and the U16B Heartland Scorpions (State Champions). This was the ninth time that a Heartland Soccer Club team has earned a berth in a State Cup Championship match (winning five of them) since 2005 - a tremendous achievement in itself.

Team Members: (L-R) Steve Riley (coach), Gabe Christianson, Brandon Besong, Garet Christianson, Sterling Harris, Tyler Cruikshank, Tanner Riley, Brady Anderson, Gareth Smith (coach), Zach Smith, Chris Clegg, Stratton West, Shane Glenn, Kipp Webb, Alex Zalesky, Charlie Parks. Not pictured: Cameron Harris and Nick Bruns.

Tournament Results
U16B Heartland Scorpions Versus U16B CRSA 1-0 Win (Semi-final)
U16B Heartland Scorpions Versus U16B West Des Moines 10-9 Win
Championship Match (after overtime and a penalty shoot out)

A remarkable Achievement
The U16B Heartland Scorpions are familiar with being crowned the Iowa State Cup Champions. The team won the State Championship in 2005, 2006, and were runners up in 2007 when they narrowly lost 1-0 in the championship match against West Des Moines - the same team they met in this year's championship match. However, this year's championship match was different for a number of reasons. It would appear that from the beginning of the season the odds have been stacked against the Scorpions. To provide some insight; halfway through the season the team lost both of their primary goal keepers, due to severe injury and availability. The coaching staff then had to train one of the team's field players to play in goal for the semi-final match, played in up to 60 mph winds, which they successfully won 1-0. On the morning of the championship match the #3 goal keeper became unavailable, so the team had to rely on other field players - eventually using three different field players(Tanner Riley, Nick Nielson, and Stratton West) - as goal keepers throughout the course of the regular time, over time and penalty shoot out. Not only that, the team played a man down for the remaining 60 minutes of the final.

Championship Match Review
The match started with an explosion of tough tackling and heated battles all over the field, basically a continuation of last year's final. Although there were chances for both teams, it took until the 71st minute of regular time for the first goal to be scored. After beating his defender, Tanner Riley placed a beautiful shot into the upper right hand corner of the goal. Unfortunately, the team couldn't hold on to their lead and allowed West Des Moines to score the equalizing goal 4 minutes from time, which took the game to an exciting overtime. After another 30 minutes of "backs to the wall" defending, and playing a man down, the game went to a suspense filled penalty shoot out.

Unbelievably, it took nine different penalty shots to eventually decide the match winner. After eight successful penalty kicks, Tanner Riley, the stand-in goal keeper for the Heartland Scorpions, managed to save West Des Moines' ninth penalty shot. This left Zach Smith with the chance to win the Sate Championship, which he did by clinically placing his penalty into the lower right corner of the goal.

View the penalty kick shoot out COMING SOON

Walter Annenberg once said: "The test of character is having the ability to meet challenges, regardless of your circumstances. According to Gareth Smith (coach) "Our team passed that test today. It was a battle against all odds because we were short a player, and had to play with three untrained goal keeper for the whole game. Regardless, the boys showed great character, and team spirit, by pulling together and never giving up - in spite of the circumstances. Although they picked up a few bumps and bruises along the way, the team passed the test of character with flying colors". Congratulations!

The U16B Heartland Scorpions will now represent the State of Iowa at the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships, which takes place in South Dakota, June 2009. This will provide them with the opportunity to play against some of the best teams in the country, and potentially qualify for the US youth Soccer National Championship in 2009.