Most people don’t like sweaty hugs.
Ankeny senior Avery Matthews doesn’t seem to mind them, though.
Matthews scored the game’s only goal in the 76th minute and the third-ranked Hawkettes defeated No. 7 Pleasant Valley, 1-0, in the quarterfinals of the girls’ Class 3A state soccer tournament on Tuesday at Cownie Park.
“It was incredible,” Matthews said of her 11th goal of the season. “You get all the sweaty hugs and the high fives that come with it. It’s such a good feeling.”
The game appeared to be headed to overtime before Matthews found the net, scoring off a rebound.
“I made a front side run in front of the goalkeeper, and I flicked it behind me,” Matthews said. “I think Cam(ryn Dietz) had a shot that bounced off the (defender), and I was right there. I just had to focus on composure.”
Ankeny (18-1) used a late goal to defeat the Spartans (13-6) in the quarterfinals for the second straight season. Last year, the Hawkettes got a penalty kick by Rachael Christmann in the 79th minute to break a scoreless tie.
“Anytime you can get a win at a state tournament, you’re happy,” said Ankeny coach Simon Brown. “We were anxious because it was getting late, and you look around and all the other games have finished and everyone is watching your game. You think, ‘Is this the one where we’re going to get beat?’
“But the girls pulled through again,” he added.
Ankeny goalkeeper Jasmine Moser was starting to get nervous as the clock was winding down.
“I got really scared there in the last few minutes, but we made it happen,” she said. “It’s great.”
Ankeny posted its 18th shutout of the season. The Hawkettes lead the state with just one goal allowed in 2022.
“Our defense is where we strive as a team,” Moser said. “We’re very defensive, and we know how to pursue. When Avery scored the goal, the defense knew that we had to lock down and not give up any goals. We had to finish it, and we did.”
Ankeny’s back line limited Pleasant Valley to just three shots. Morgan Russmann–who entered the game with 28 goals–had the Spartans’ best scoring chance in the second half, but her shot sailed over the crossbar.
“She kicked it over, and I was like, ‘Whew!'” Brown said. “That’s all she needs is one chance. She’s a really good player.”
Ankeny defender Eden Gibson said she became worried when the Hawkettes failed to capitalize on some early scoring chances.
“It was really stressful,” she said. “You don’t want to lose a game that you should have won, especially because we had a lot of shots and we should have finished earlier.”
The Hawkettes recorded another clean sheet, giving Matthews an opportunity to score the game-winner.
“Our defense really pulled through. They’re amazing,” Matthews said. “I couldn’t ask for a better back line. They’re so solid.”
Gibson is joined on the back line by fellow senior Maddie Foels, junior Jenna Pitz and sophomore Elizabeth Proctor.
“I’m really confident in our defense,” Gibson said. “This is our second year playing together, and this is the year that we’ve really clicked as a defense.”
Ankeny lost starting forward Brooke Harrington to an injury with about 10 minutes remaining. She held an ice pack on her left wrist after the game.
“When I was going in for a tackle, my foot got swept out from under me with the ball and I landed on my hand and my wrist got caught in it,” Harrington said. “Our trainer is hoping that it’s just a bad sprain, but we’re going to DMOS (Orthopaedic Center) right after this so then we’ll know. But even if it is a break, I think I’ll be able to play in a cast.”
The Hawkettes will face No. 2 Council Bluffs Lincoln (16-3) in the semifinals on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. on Field 6. The Lynx advanced with a 3-0 victory over Dowling Catholic.
On April 2, Gibson scored the game’s only goal as Ankeny posted a 1-0 win over Lincoln.
“We played them earlier, and we got one lucky goal off them,” Moser said. “They’re a good team, and it’ll definitely be a challenge. But I think we’ll be up for it.”
Lincoln senior Hanna Schimmer is one of the state’s leading scorers with 43 goals.
“They have a good forward up top,” Gibson said. “We’ve just got to keep on doing what we’re doing in the back.”
