Two area boys’ soccer teams were knocked off in playoff action last night. The Columbus Wildcats gave 15th-ranked Mediapolis everything they could handle, forcing a Class 1A Substate 5 semifinal to remain scoreless going into double overtime in West Liberty. But Bulldog sophomore Lance Ludens scored the winner on a feed from classmate Carl Hines to give Mediapolis the victory. Columbus ends the season with a record of 8-9. The Wildcats will lose seniors Daniel Martinez, Oscar Alcala, Eric Diaz, Julian Jimenez and Jacob Haines.

Sigourney-Keota fell behind West Branch 3-0 at halftime and went on to lose a 1A Substate 6 semi 6-0 in Iowa City. SK wraps up the 2023 campaign with an 8-6 record and loses Matt Brainard, DJ Hammes, Dan McLaughlin, Nathan Wehr, Clayton Visser, Ty Shafranek, Zack Ives and Jack and Cole Clarahan to graduation.