It has been just over a year ago that the Knoxville Boys Soccer Squad played at the state tournament for just the second time in program history. The Panthers played Cedar Rapids Xavier last June at the Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines in a first round match. While the match did not go Knoxville’s way, a 5-0 loss, the Panthers had their second state appearance. Knoxville got to the State Tournament a week earlier with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Pella in the Substate final as the match went to penalty kicks after both teams were unable to score in the two overtime periods. Caleb Lee, who was on that state tournament squad tells KRLS Sports it was rather nerve-racking in the sub state match.

Lee:
“The PK shootout just to get us to state was insane. Going into overtime and having the PK shootout and coming down to the last shot was insane.”

The Panthers finished 14-5 after the state tournament match. Knoxville lost its season this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.