Storm Lake soccer teams fall in close losses to Le Mars

Storm Lake left Le Mars with two narrow defeats, but the close margins told a more important story than the final scores: both Tornadoes squads are still getting looks, creating chances and positioning themselves for a postseason run.

The boys fell 3-2 at Tornado Stadium on Thursday, May 14, as Le Mars got all three goals from Degi Kabongo. Storm Lake answered with goals from Leo Sanchez and Omar Torres and finished with 12 shots on goal, a sign that the Tornadoes spent enough time in the attacking end to stay within reach until the end. The result was decided by finishing, not by a lack of pressure.

The girls’ game in Le Mars ended the same way in a different scoreline, a 1-0 loss that kept Storm Lake close throughout. Coach Katie Voortmann said her team had lots of opportunities and played hard, a description that fit the kind of game that can turn quickly if one chance breaks the right way. Instead, the Tornadoes walked away with another tight loss to a familiar opponent, one that now looms again on the postseason calendar.

Voortmann pointed ahead to a regional rematch against Le Mars on May 28 in Le Mars, giving Thursday’s result added weight. The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s 2026 postseason schedule lists Class 3A first-round games for Tuesday, May 19, second-round substate games for Wednesday, May 27, and substate finals for Friday, May 29. Winners advance to the state quarterfinals in central Iowa on Monday, June 1, so the next meeting with Le Mars could carry far more consequence than a regular-season result.

For Storm Lake, the bigger takeaway is competitiveness. The boys showed they can score through Sanchez and Torres and still generate enough pressure to put 12 shots on goal. The girls continued a pattern of staying in games, coming off a 1-0 loss to Western Christian on May 12 and a tougher 9-0 result against Spencer on April 29. Taken together, those results suggest Storm Lake is still in the fight, with the postseason offering a chance to turn close losses into a bracket run.