Duax scores twice on PKs, leads Jaguars back from early deficit on Senior Night

As the sun sets in the background, Ankeny Centennial’s Ty Duax scores on a penalty kick during Tuesday’s game against visiting Southeast Polk. Duax had two goals to lead the Jaguars to a 4-1 victory. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

The Ankeny Centennial boys’ soccer team celebrated its Senior Night on Tuesday with a 4-1 victory over visiting Southeast Polk.

Ty Duax scored a pair of goals for the 10th-ranked Jaguars, who improved to 4-3 in the CIML Conference and 7-4 overall. No. 14 Southeast Polk’s records fell to 1-6 and 8-8.

The game pitted Centennial coach Brian Duax against one of his former assistants, Jacob Lucy.

“Lucy has done really well with them,” Duax said of the Rams. “It’s not the Southeast Polk of old. They actually try and play soccer as well as being a tough, hard-nosed team to break down.”

**Ankeny Centennial’s Parker Lundberg advances the ball during Tuesday’s game. He was one of the players honored on Senior Night. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)**

Southeast Polk even took a 1-0 lead in the first half.

“It was Senior Night, so we had three or four guys who started that normally don’t,” Duax said. “To (the Rams’) credit, they caught us on a counter attack and scored.”

Duax tied the game in the 18th minute. He scored on a penalty kick after Andrew Heckenlaible drew a foul in the box.

It was the first of two assists for Heckenlaible.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Andrew Heckenlaible looks to take a shot on goal during Tuesday’s game. He contributed a pair of assists in the Jaguars’ win. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)**

“We started isolating their outside backs in that space and creating 2 vs 1 (opportunities),” Duax said.

Duax converted another penalty kick late in the first half to put Centennial ahead for good. It was his seventh goal of the season.

Midway through the second half, the Jaguars extended their margin to 3-1 when Rashidi Ishibwami scored on a header. It was his team-leading 10th goal of the year.

Freshman Brock Brazeau later added another goal for Centennial, which also got an assist from Austin Lundberg.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Beau Brazeau battles for the ball during Tuesday’s game. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)**

“The second half was pretty much domination,” Duax said. “I don’t know if (goalkeeper) Andrew (Nelson) had to make a save.”

The Jaguars will host No. 4 Waukee Northwest (12-3) in their conference finale on Friday. The two teams could meet again in a substate final on May 24.

“It seems like we’re always destined to play each other (in the postseason),” Duax said. “You would think we’ll see them again–if both teams take care of business. And if you think it’s going to be an even battle, and I think it will be, you might want to keep your cards close to the vest (on Friday).”