Ben Hutchens, Lee Enterprises

DES MOINES — Bishop Heelan ran into a wrecking ball in the form of senior Gilbert forward Connor Rash.

Friday, in the 2A IHSAA boys soccer championship, top-seeded Gilbert defeated No. 2 Bishop Heelan 3-2 in Mediacom Stadium. The loss ended Heelan’s (18-3) bid for back-to-back state titles.

Rash scored all three Gilbert (18-0-1) goals. Rash’s final goal, the match’s decisive score, came with just over eight minutes remaining off a penalty shot after the Heelan back line was called for controversial penalty on a sliding tackle attempt.

Rash blasted a shot into the top right corner of the goal, just beyond the outreached arm of senior Crusader goaltender Landon Block.

The controversial penalty was created after Heelan senior Bryan Rios slid for a challenge

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