On June 3, 2025, at the Iowa high school girls state soccer tournament at Lied Recreational Fields in Ames, it’s all coming down on Des Moines Christian.
Down 5-0 to Hudson late in the second half, the season is undoubtedly coming to a close. It’s also pouring, with rain turning the field to a pool of mud. Every player’s uniform, hair, socks and shoes are drenched as reality sets in for the Lions that this is thier final game of the year.
Despite the loathsome conditions, the Lions continued to battle in the waning minutes of the state quarterfinals, scoring two goals before the final whistle. Even in a 5-2 loss that ended their season in the most miserable of conditions, the fight and the joy from Des Moines Christian remained strong. While it’s a moment of despair, it’s something none of them will soon forget.
Nearly one year later, they hold that game close to their hearts.
“No one thought we were gonna win, but it was that, ‘We will fight together until the end of the game, regardless of what the outcome is,'” Des Moines Christian head coach Jaime Price said. “That’s just the spirit of this class. We are not giving up until the last whistle is blown.”
One year later, the bulk of that team returns better than ever. The Lions are out to a 10-2-1 start as one of the top teams in Class 1A.
The catalyst for the success is a senior-laden squad that is as motivated as ever to end on a high note.
Des Moines Christian girls soccer’s special seniors vault it into state title contention
When Price was looking at last year’s team, she wasn’t sure there was a state tournament caliber squad initially. With ample youth on the squad and many key seniors graduating in 2024, they had to grow up fast.
Lucky for Des Moines Christian, this year’s senior class rose to the occasion, helping spark a run to the state tournament. One season later, they are at the heart of one of Iowa’s special teams.
Of the 11 players who have started at least seven games for Des Moines Christian in 2026, five of them are seniors — Addy Oetker, Hallie Evans, Addison Price, Kira Roberts and Charlotte Erzen. Oetker, Evans, Addison Price and Erzen are the team’s top-four goal scorers. Roberts is a team captain and starting center back, leading the team’s defense.
Those five have grown up playing alongside one another. With that comes incredible chemistry and an unspoken bond, on and off the field, that has translated into success.
“On the field, it really makes a difference,” Oetker said. “Things just click without having to say, ‘Make that run, make that pass.’ You just have that instinct and it really helps us a lot.”
Oetker is the team’s leader in goals and assists so far this season, an individual star in her own right. However, the style the team plays in makes her no more important than any of the four other seniors on the roster.
Still, she is the unselfish playmaker of the team, able to set up goals as easily as she can score them. Evans, who is second on the team in goals, has athleticism and speed that create problems for any defense. Roberts is the anchor of a defense that has shut out seven teams this year and not allowed more than two goals in a single game. Addison Price is the catalyst in the midfield, possessing the ball for long stretches and organizing attacks. Erzen brings an intensity in defense that allows her to get a touch on any ball within striking distance to disrupt any team’s pressure.
Oetker may get the acclaim as the leader in the box score, but it’s the team as a whole that has seen the Lions vault into one of the best in Class 1A. Oetker will be playing basketball instead of soccer next year at Northwestern College. While she has a bright future ahead in hoops, she still wanted to return to create something special with her classmates.
“I knew that I just couldn’t leave,” Oetker said. “I couldn’t be done with soccer.”
For Jaime Price, it’s a coach’s dream to have a group like this spark a special run. There’s zero selfishness among them and they’re as tight-knit as can be. Those are qualities that cannot be instilled in a group, but rather be developed over time with in-game experience.
“It’s rare that you have such a strong class that really pulls together all the pieces that you need for a solid team,” Price said. “We don’t just have athleticism or just have soccer skills. (It’s) really a group that just meshes well together, they all recognize each other’s strengths and really are proud of each other for that and support each other. Nobody’s like, ‘Oh, I wish I was her.’ They love each other on and off the field and are super supportive of each other. That’s not something you can coach.”
The Lions have had a ton of success with this senior class on the roster. They have made two state tournaments in the last three seasons, including a state semifinal as freshmen. With their experiences and the bonds they have built, the leaders of the team are hoping to end their high school careers on the best terms possible.
“Our seniors, especially, we really want it,” Roberts said ”We want to go back to the state championship. We know we can.”
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Stellar senior class elevating Des Moines Christian girls soccer
Reporting by Eli McKown, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
