Junior midfielder/forward Ty Duax is one of the captains for the 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys’ soccer team. He helped the Jaguars to a 2-1 victory at No. 4 Waukee Northwest in a Class 4A substate final on Wednesday.
Duax has racked up 20 points this season on seven goals and six assists. He has helped lead his team to a 9-5 record.
Duax, the son of coach Brian Duax, earned first-team all-state honors as a sophomore, when he finished the season with 16 goals and 20 assists. He had seven goals and 10 assists as a freshman in 2021.
Here is some inside info on Duax:
Congratulations on qualifying for state again. How does it feel to be going back to Cownie Park?
It feels great going back to Cownie for our third straight year. I’ve played there a lot in my life whether it was with club or high school, so I’m happy to get another chance to play there.
What was the key to the win over Waukee Northwest?
I think the key was not letting Cole Schrage–their best player, in my opinion–impact the game. I have to give credit to Haris (Smajlovic) for an amazing performance. And we had to take advantage of Andrew (Heckenlaible) when he was in 1v1 situations.
Two years ago, your team won a shootout against Waukee in the substate final, snapping the Warriors’ 46-game winning streak. Did you have any flashbacks to that game since some of the Northwest players were on that Waukee squad?
I didn’t really have flashbacks of that game. I think it was just two great games and two great wins for us.
Your team enters the Class 4A tournament as the No. 8 seed. Because of that, do you kind of feel like your team has nothing to lose and everything to gain?
Yes, I think we don’t have anything to lose. We have lost to all of the “good teams” left in the tournament so I guess it’s our revenge tour.
Your team will face No. 1 Valley in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at 7 p.m. It’s supposed to be close to 90 degrees on Tuesday, so are you glad that the game will be played later in the day?
Yes, me and all of my teammates are happy that the game will be played later so it won’t be as hot.
Your team dropped a 2-1 decision at Valley on April 18. What do you remember about that game?
When we played them earlier, I remember we conceded two amazing goals. We felt like we controlled the whole game, creating plenty of chances. We felt like we should have won that game.
The Tigers have won 10 straight games and posted nine consecutive shutouts before giving up a goal in the substate final against Sioux City North. What will be the key to cracking their defense?
As for the upcoming game, similar to the game vs. Northwest, we can’t let their good players impact the game. For the offensive side, we’re going to look to try and find Andrew 1v1 as much as possible so Andrew can either score himself, or serve a ball in for others to finish.
Your team lost to Valley in a shootout in the Class 3A quarterfinals in 2021. Do you feel like you owe them some payback?
Yes, I feel like we could use some payback for that loss.
Looking at the entire Class 4A field, do you think this tournament is pretty wide open? Do you think there are several teams that could win the title?
I think this is the most wide open tournament ever. Anyone could come out with the trophy this season.
Where are you at in the recruiting process? Have you looked at a lot of schools, and are you close to making a decision?
My recruitment process is still pretty open as of now. I’ve had a few chats with the Drake coach and coaches in different states. I’m attending some camps that I’ve been invited to this summer so I guess we’ll see what happens.
Your younger brother, Tate, has spent the last year playing for Austin FC Academy. Have you had a chance to see him play at all, and what do you think of this opportunity that he’s been given to build his soccer resume?
Yeah, Tate going to Austin wasn’t just big for him; I feel like it kind of put Iowa on the map for my recruiting chances. I have gotten the chance to watch him in person when he played in Kansas City. Otherwise, when he’s playing in big tournaments my parents will go watch him and I’ll stay home and watch on TV if it’s being streamed. I think it’s a great opportunity for him to build his resume and develop under some of the best coaches and facilities in the country.