Lucas Newhard and the Ankeny boys’ soccer team may not be unstoppable, but nobody has found a way to slow them down yet.
Newhard had a hat trick on Friday to lead the top-ranked Hawks to a 6-0 victory over visiting Fort Dodge in a CIML Iowa Conference game. The contest was moved to Ankeny Stadium due to an issue with the lights at Ankeny High School.
Newhard also had a pair of goals on Thursday in a 5-0 win over visiting Ottumwa in a non-conference game. He now has 27 goals on the season, which ranks second in the state and is just one shy of the school record.
Landon Benge, Gannon Ripley and Brian Jimenez also had goals in the win over Fort Dodge. Mason Yeatts and Tyson Rodenborn each had two assists, while Isaac O’Toole and Tyler Woods each added one.
It was the seventh straight shutout for Ankeny, which improved to 3-0 in the conference and 13-0 overall. The Dodgers, who have scored only one goal all season, dropped to 0-4 and 0-9.
On Thursday, the Hawks handed Ottumwa its fifth consecutive shutout loss. The Bulldogs’ record dropped to 2-6.
“I thought the boys played well, and it was good to get back to our home stadium and get the result that we wanted,” said Ankeny coach Marcus Varnum. “We continue to take steps in the right direction in preparing for the brute of our schedule.”
Rodenborn, Hunter Yeatts and Dylan Gloviak each had a goal in the win. Jace Ward contributed two assists, while O’Toole, Mason Yeatts and Avry Olson each added one.
“It was another game where we felt like we were creating the chances that we want to,” Varnum said. “It just took us a bit to get into that rhythm and find that momentum. We know that creating the chances is half the battle so we want to celebrate that.”
Ankeny will now face No. 4 Ankeny Centennial (10-2) on Tuesday at Ankeny Stadium in a showdown for first place in the league. The Hawks will be looking to avenge last year’s 3-1 loss in the rivalry game.
The contest begins at 6 p.m., with the girls’ game to follow.