The Ankeny boys’ soccer team remained unbeaten with a 2-1 victory at Dowling Catholic in a non-conference game on Tuesday.
Lucas Newhard scored the winning goal with about 5 minutes left off an assist by Hunter Yeatts.
“Hunter clipped a nice ball over the top to Lucas, who beat the goalie and the center back,” said Ankeny coach Marcus Varnum. “He got a good touch on it and put it away. It was a pretty dramatic ending to a good game.”
Newhard scored both of the Hawks’ goals and now has six of the team’s eight goals on the season. He put Ankeny ahead when he connected on a set piece at the top of the 18 midway through the first half.
“It was a nice free kick,” Varnum said. “It was definitely a high intensity game, and Dowling was putting us under good pressure. But once we scored that first goal, we settled in a little bit and got through the first half.”
Dowling (1-1) tied the game in the second half on a free kick by freshman Raymond Molina.
“The second half was pretty square,” Varnum said. “They probably had a little bit of the momentum. They ended up getting a free kick and put in a beautiful goal. Kyle (Pederson) had very little chance to save that one. He’s a great goalie, but not a lot of goalies were going to get a hand on that one. Kudos to that kid for a great set piece.”
Thanks to Newhard, though, Ankeny had an answer. The Hawks improved their record to 3-0.
“Dowling was a good side and put it on us at times,” Varnum said. “We were just happy to get the win.”
Ankeny will play two games in the Urbandale Invitational on Saturday. The Hawks will face Des Moines Lincoln (0-2) at 11:30 a.m. and Indianola (0-1) at 1:15 p.m.