Ankeny Centennial’s Cady Compton wasn’t worried when Thursday’s showdown against top-ranked Valley in the Class 3A semifinals of the girls’ state soccer tournament went to a shootout at Cownie Park.
She knew that the No. 5 Jaguars had goalkeeper Kate Bergan on their side.
“Kate is an absolute beast,” said Compton. “We’ve been in this situation before, and she’s like 100 percent on her saves. I didn’t have a doubt in my mind that we weren’t going home yet, and we’re not done yet.”
Bergan made four consecutive saves as Centennial won the shootout, 2-0, to post a 2-1 victory over the defending state champion Tigers, who had their 37-game winning streak snapped.
“It never crossed my mind (that I would save them all),” said Bergan. “I was just out there working hard for my team.”
The Jaguars (18-3) advanced to Saturday’s championship game at 3 p.m. against No. 2 Council Bluffs Lincoln (17-3). The Lynx outlasted No. 3 Ankeny, 1-0, in overtime.
Valley, which was seeking an eighth state title, ends the season at 19-1.
“This team is going to tackle adversity, and we can handle it,” said Centennial coach Chris Allen, who is now one win away from a third state championship in the last six seasons with the Jaguars. “We were pretty well counted out, and it’s fun to battle back through the underdog situation.”
Centennial missed its first two attempts in the shootout, but Bergan responded each time with a save. McKenna Hilton finally converted a kick for the Jaguars, finding the left side of the net.
“I felt pretty confident,” Hilton said. “We’ve been working on them every practice. Honestly, I think it got a little in their heads and we came out on top, and that’s all that matters.”
After Bergan made another save against Valley’s Gabbie Gaffney, Centennial got another goal from Averi Porter, who found the right side of the net.
“I knew if we rode things out defensively (in the overtimes), I liked our chances,” Allen said. “Kate is phenomenal. She’s so explosive. Any shooter has to worry, ‘Can I get it wide enough from her?'”
Bergan then denied another attempt by Rachel Hansen to end the game.
“I just knew I had to stay composed,” Bergan said. “I was just trying to read the player the best that I could, and I made a decision and stuck with it.”
Valley took a 1-0 lead less than 4 minutes into the game on a beautiful shot by Avery Galloway that went just over the outstretched arms of Bergan. Galloway nearly scored again in the 16th minute, but Bergan punched the ball away.
The Jaguars got the equalizer in the 20th minute when Ava Martin scored off a corner kick. It was her 10th goal of the season.
Later in the half, Centennial appeared to take the lead when Compton found the net. But the goal was ruled no good.
“They called an obstruction, which is like when I interfere with the goalie,” Compton said. “I think you can do it, but I guess the ref just didn’t think so.”
The Jaguars nearly won the game in double overtime when a blast from Hilton sailed just over the crossbar. But she later converted the penalty kick to help her team prevail.
“It feels awesome,” Hilton said. “This is the best I’ve ever felt honestly.”
The Jaguars had lost to Valley during the regular season, 1-0. They also avenged a 2-1 loss to the Tigers in last year’s semifinals.
Centennial defeated No. 4 Waukee Northwest in Tuesday’s quarterfinals, avenging an earlier loss. Now, the Jaguars will get a chance to avenge their only other loss.
Council Bluffs Lincoln posted a 2-1 overtime win at Centennial on April 1.
“I think we’ll be prepared to face them again so we can avenge our loss,” Bergan said.
Could there be another dramatic finish?
“That’s how we got here and how we got to the next level,” Allen said. “It’s time for the girls to celebrate for a moment, and then we have to buckle down and start thinking about how we’re going to get the next one.”
