Junior midfielder Alanna Pennington has helped the Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer team to a 10-2 record and a No. 4 ranking in Class 3A. She leads the Jaguars with 10 goals and has also contributed two assists.
Pennington was named to the CIML Iowa Conference first team as a sophomore, when she helped Centennial to an 18-3 mark and a trip to the Class 3A semifinals.
Here is some inside info on Pennington:
Congratulations on an outstanding season thus far. What has been the key to the team’s success?
I think our success comes from how close our team has gotten. We all have really grown not only as players but as friends, and that helps so much with our success on the field because we all push each other to be the best.
Your squad’s only losses came to No. 3 Council Bluffs Lincoln in overtime on April 1 and to No. 1 Valley on April 15. Do you feel like the team learned some things from those losses?
In the beginning of the season to play these big games against good opposition is obviously a challenge, but that is what Jag soccer is all about. We only get better from playing against good teams, and we learned lessons from each loss so that we are ready to meet up with them again at state.
The Jaguars are now riding a six-game winning streak after going 3-0 in the Tournament of Champions on Friday and Saturday at Burlington. Do you feel like your team is playing its best soccer of the season?
The soccer we are playing now compared to the beginning of the season just shows all of our hard work is paying off! And I believe our winning streak shows that we are playing our best, and I believe it will only go up from here.
You scored the go-ahead goal on a header in the second half of Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Dunlap (Ill.). Can you describe what happened on that play, and was it one of your best goals of the season?
My goal happened off a great cross from Izzy Sash on the right side. This season we have been getting some great chances off of corners and crosses in the box, and that game was an example of many great chances from crosses. We were getting a little frustrated in the first half not being able to capitalize on them, but we stayed confident and I just happened to be on the end of it to get the goal! It was a great feeling, and I’m so glad we ended up winning that game! Those type of goals are so exiting to score so I would say it is my favorite of the season.
You’ve already surpassed your total of nine goals from last season. Did you expect to become an even bigger scoring threat this year?
I think one of my roles on the team is to score, and I’m happy with how the season has been going so far with that!
Your team will now play No. 2 Ankeny in the annual Jag-Hawk showdown on Tuesday at Ankeny Stadium, and it’s also Pack the Pitch Night because the community is trying to break the all-time attendance record for a soccer match in Iowa. Do you think the record will fall?
I am confident in the Ankeny community that we can beat the record! Soccer is a beautiful sport, and we have a lot of talented players on both the girls’ and boys’ teams. I also love that “Pack the Pitch” is bringing awareness to other sports that don’t get much of a crowd! So hopefully people will come support!
Even if the mark isn’t broken, what do you think the atmosphere will be like that night?
I think that any number of fans is a good number because the games will still be competitive and something that most people would love to come and watch! Any Ankeny vs. Centennial rivalry game brings in a loud crowd, and that’s what makes these games so fun to play in!
I’m sure you’re aware that the Hawkettes are not only undefeated, but they have yet to allow a goal this season. What will be the keys to breaking them down defensively?
The Hawkettes have a good defense and it will be a difficult match, but I am confident with our attacking abilities that we can find the back of the net.
This game obviously carries a lot of weight in the battle for the conference title, but in terms of the bigger picture, I know your team has some other goals that it wants to accomplish that are even more important, right?
The conference title is definitely a big goal for us, but the bigger goal is to win state. I think this month of May will really prepare us for the state games, and I am looking forward to proving to everyone that our team is the best team in Iowa!
Where are you at in the recruiting process? Have you looked at some schools yet?
Right now I am talking to a couple of schools, and I also have my first DI offer to play at North Dakota State! I am hoping to get on more visits once the season comes to an end, and I am just excited for what the future holds!
What do you want to study in college?
I have always struggled with finding out what I want to study in college, but recently I have been interested in sports medicine so I think anywhere along the lines of that is what I’m leaning toward.