The Ankeny Centennial boys’ soccer team took the field for Friday’s game at Waukee with a lineup that featured several new starters.
Coach Brian Duax benched some of his best players following the fourth-ranked Jaguars’ 2-1 loss at No. 6 Valley on Tuesday.
“We have not been as excited in our play throughout the course of the year,” Duax said. “Being 3-3 and struggling in games that I think we can be better in, I felt like we needed to have a little wake-up call. So I started seven different guys that I normally don’t start–just to send a little (message) to the guys who have been starting. There are other guys waiting to come take your spot.”
The strategy worked.
Centennial got goals from three of those benched starters after they entered the game, and the Jaguars went on to post a 3-0 victory. They improved to 2-2 in the CIML Conference and 4-3 overall, while Waukee’s records dropped to 2-2 and 3-3.
Andrew Heckenlaible, Ty Duax and Rashidi Ishibwami each scored a goal as Centennial built a 3-0 halftime lead. Ishibwami also had an assist.
“Those guys weren’t the most enthused by (being benched), but they did exactly what I told them to–to sit for awhile and be great cheerleaders for the team and be the best teammates you can be,” Duax said. “And as soon as I put them on, the game changed in a good way. We were probably still the better team (early on), but then we became a whole lot better.”
Arnel Islamovic had a pair of assists for the Jaguars, who came closer to playing the style of soccer that Duax has been wanting them to play.
“A lot of our opponents have been playing a low block press, which can be hard to solve,” Duax said. “And some of our guys have been trying to break it down by themselves, rather than moving the ball around and letting the ball do the work. We started some guys who are working their butts off and doing what we’re asking in terms of playing simple and playing fast, and I thought we did a better job with that throughout the game.
“But I still believe we can better,” he added.
The Jaguars will host a conference game against No. 12 Johnston (8-2) on Tuesday. The Dragons are riding an eight-game winning streak, including wins over No. 1 Dowling Catholic and Valley this week.
“Johnston started slow, but they were missing five or six guys for those first two games,” Duax said. “They’re a perennial power year after year, and they’re going to be a tough opponent.”
Centennial has only five games remaining in the regular season.
“The best we can finish is 9-3 with 12 games,” Duax said. “We’re still trying to add games, but at this point in the year how are you going to get any games added? It’s not ideal, but it is what it is.”