As the final seconds ticked off the clock during the second overtime of Friday’s game at Johnston, the Ankeny girls’ soccer team appeared to be headed to a shootout.
But senior midfielder Kennedy Macke had other ideas.
Macke curved a shot into the goal with about 2 seconds left to give the fourth-ranked Hawkettes a dramatic 1-0 victory in the non-conference game.
“It definitely counted,” said Ankeny coach Simon Brown. “We did it the hard way, but I was happy to come home with the win.”
Ankeny was awarded a corner kick in the final minute, setting up the game-winning goal. Macke took the kick from the left corner and blasted the ball off the left post.
“I was trying to serve the ball into the box for someone to get a head on it, but the ball bounced back out to me,” said Macke. “I knew there wasn’t much time left so I just took a touch and curved it into the goal.”
Macke’s shot deflected off the head of a Johnston defender before settling into the net. It was her third goal of the season.
The Hawkettes, who bounced back from Tuesday’s loss to No. 3 Ankeny Centennial, improved to 13-1. No. 14 Johnston dropped to 7-5.
The Dragons also lost to Centennial in double overtime on April 8.
“It was good to get a big win after the tough loss on Tuesday,” Brown said.
Ankeny posted its 13th shutout. The only goal that the Hawkettes have allowed all season came in the loss to Centennial.
“We kept another clean sheet,” Brown said. “Johnston never really threatened to get in behind us.”
Brown was happy with the way his team created numerous scoring chances. He’d just like to see his players finish their opportunities.
“As a team, we’re working really well collectively getting the ball in the right positions,” he said. “We had 20 shots easily to their two or three. It was just one of those games where the ball doesn’t go in.
“We made things difficult for ourselves by not being very efficient in front of the goal. We created so many chances, and we probably scored the most difficult shot we had on goal all day. That kind of sums up our last week with our chances. We just need to be better in front of the goal,” he added.
The Hawkettes will travel to Waukee Northwest on Tuesday for a CIML Iowa Conference game against the No. 5 Wolves (11-1), whose only loss came to Batavia (Ill.) in the Tournament of Champions on April 29 at Burlington.