Maybe now Chris Allen can get some rest.
The Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer coach had a few sleepless nights this week trying to figure out how to slow down Bettendorf forward Carson Bohonek.
It turns out the Jaguars were up for the challenge.
Bohonek was held scoreless and eighth-ranked Centennial earned another trip to the Class 3A state tournament with a 2-0 victory over No. 9 Bettendorf in a regional final on Thursday at Centennial.
“Bettendorf was incredible,” said Allen. “I told (Bohonek) that I spent the last four days thinking about her and how we’re going to take her from the game. She’s so effective on the ball and dangerous.”
Bohonek, a sophomore, entered the game with 37 goals. She was tied for eighth among the state’s scoring leaders.
But Bohonek was unable to find the net against the Jaguars’ aggressive defense.
“She’s a great player, but we had a game plan,” said Centennial goalkeeper Kate Bergan. “Emmarie (Becker) and Maddison (Balashaitis) worked really well together to keep her covered, and we were able to shut her out.”
Olivia Kroska and Averi Porter each scored a goal as Centennial raised its record to 10-6-1. The Bulldogs finished the season at 13-4.
The defending state champion Jaguars are seeking their fourth title in the last seven seasons.
“It feels amazing to be going back to state,” said Porter. “There’s no feeling like it.”
Kroska opened the scoring with a goal in the 7th minute. She converted a free kick after teammate Ava Martin was fouled just outside the box.
Kroska blasted a shot around the Bulldogs’ wall that eluded the grasp of goalkeeper Riley Sweetland.
“That’s where I was hoping it would go,” said Kroska. “I couldn’t really see because of the wall, but I saw it in the back of the net and I was really excited.”
The Jaguars held a 1-0 lead for most of the game. An apparent goal by Martin off a beautiful pass from Porter was negated by an offsides call in the 71st minute.
However, Porter added an insurance goal with less than 4 minutes left to play.
“I think it was from Cady (Compton),” she said. “It richocheted off Ava, and I hit it in. It’s been awhile since I’ve scored coming back (from a knee injury). That was really special to me to get that (goal).”
Shortly thereafter, the final seconds ticked off the clock. The Jaguars punched their ticket to Cownie Park.
“It feels really good,” Bergan said. “We played with high energy and as a team tonight. It’s just a really good, all-around team win.”
Centennial will play No. 1 Waukee Northwest (16-1) in a Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Wolves won an earlier meeting, 3-1.
“I feel like we always go into the state tournament as underdogs, and we’ve always been able to do really well,” said Centennial senior Alanna Pennington. “Honestly, I think being the underdog is better for us.”
The Jaguars are the lowest seed in the eight-team field. They will have to defeat three higher seeds in order to defend their crown.
“We’re going in with the mindset that we’re going to be the best No. 8 seed there ever was,” Porter said. “That’s how we’re looking at it. We have nothing to lose.”
Six of the eight teams are from the CIML Conference.
“I don’t care what seed we are,” Allen said. “I think the girls are confident they can play with anybody. I’m sure nobody is going to want to look across the bracket and see us. At this point, it doesn’t matter much. Good teams are going to be there.”
Northwest, though, is a clear favorite after going undefeated in the conference. The Wolves’ only loss came to Whitefish Bay (Wis.), 2-1, at the Tournament of Champions on April 28.
The Jaguars will be looking to pull off the upset.
“I feel like we came out on the wrong side of a lot of close games this year,” Bergan said. “We can fight with every team, including Northwest. We’re ready to fight.”