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The Board of Directors of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union selected Des Moines’ James W. Cownie Soccer Park as the new home of the Iowa Girls State Soccer Tournament at its June 20th meeting.

The Cownie Soccer Park will serve as the host venue for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Iowa Girls State Soccer Tournaments.

The IGHSAU also reviewed host proposals from the City of Muscatine and the Cedar Valley Sports Commission.

“We are pleased to bring the Girls State Soccer Tournament to Des Moines,” said Mike Dick, Executive Director of the IGHSAU.

“This was an extremely difficult decision. Muscatine and Cedar Valley both have outstanding soccer venues.

 However, I have been impressed with the many improvements that have been made at the Cownie Soccer Park.

It is a top-notch soccer facility and will be a great venue for state tournament teams and their fans.”

Muscatine has served as the home of the Iowa Girls State Soccer Tournament since the IGHSAU sanctioned girls soccer in 1998.

“This has been a bittersweet day. We are excited to bring state soccer to Des Moines, but we can’t thank the city of Muscatine, Muscatine High School and the Muscatine Parks and Recreation staff enough for the outstanding job they have done hosting the state soccer tournament,” said Dick.

 “We have built some great relationships with some terrific people over the last 15 years.”

The James W. Cownie Soccer Park has 12 soccer fields.

The four fields that will be utilized during the state soccer tournament have lights and the championship field has bleacher seating for 2,000 people along with a press box. 

Another field seats 750 people.

The park has undergone 1.8 million dollars in renovations that include 12 completely rebuilt fields, new drainage, irrigation and sports turf sod. 

The park serves as the home venue for the Drake and Grand View University soccer teams. Cownie Park has also hosted the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Soccer Championships, along with NAIA men’s and women’s soccer championships.