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With 6 returning all-conference players, Jaguars look to contend for 3A crown

March 26, 2024 by Dan Holm

Ankeny Centennial’s Avery Lewis puts the ball into play with a corner kick during the Jaguars’ 2-0 victory over Bettendorf in last year’s Class 3A regional final. Lewis, a team captain, is one of six returning all-conference players from a team that posted a 10-7-1 record. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Although one of its top returning players will miss the season due to an injury, the Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer team still boasts a talented roster.

Six all-conference players are back from last year’s squad that posted a 10-7-1 record and advanced to the Class 3A state tournament.

“Our returners have expressed a desire to make it back to state, and we approach every season with the belief that we can be a title contender,” said Centennial coach Chris Allen. “There will definitely be a lot of questions asked of us during games with such tough competition in the CIML, and we will need to do a lot of problem-solving ourselves during training. However, this team returns seven players who played in the state championship game in 2022–so there is experience to be passed on there.”

Junior defender Maddison Balashaitis is among the team’s returnees. She contributed two assists as a sophomore, when she was named to the CIML Conference second team.

Ankeny Centennial defender Maddison Balashaitis looks to pass the ball during a game against visiting Valley last season. Balashaitis was a second-team all-conference pick as a sophomore. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Balashaitis was part of a defensive unit that held Bettendorf’s high-scoring Carson Bohonek without a goal in Centennial’s 2-0 victory in a regional final, allowing the Jaguars to qualify for state for the eighth time in the program’s nine-year history. Seniors McKenna Hilton and Avery Lewis also started on the back line along with sophomore Evie Boyle.

Hilton had four goals and two assists, while Lewis–a team captain and a Rockhurst University recruit–contributed two goals and four assists. They each received all-conference honorable mention along with Boyle.

Junior forward Ava Martin is Centennial’s top returning scorer. She had eight goals and four assists a year ago, when she was a third-team all-conference pick.

“Ava is coming off of a very strong basketball season,” Allen said.

Sophomore midfielder Emmarie Becker is also back. She had two goals and four assists as a freshman, when she received all-conference honorable mention.

Ankeny Centennial coach Chris Allen shakes hands with Emmarie Becker prior to the start of a game against visiting Waukee last season. Allen has guided the Jaguars to the state tournament eight times in the nine-year history of the program. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)

Allen will rely heavily on those six players to make up for the loss of junior midfielder Olivia Kroska, who tore the ACL in her left knee and will not play this season. Kroska, a University of Denver recruit, was a third-team all-conference selection after racking up five goals and five assists in 2023.

“We will still count on Olivia to support the team and help players navigate the season,” Allen said.

Senior forward Addison Fair, senior midfielder Gabby Lawrence and sophomore midfielder Emily Conger will all be expected to play key roles for the Jaguars. They each saw action in all 18 games a year ago and combined for a total of 10 starts.

Fair had six goals and two assists, while Lawrence chipped in two goals and three assists. Conger added one goal and an assist.

Ankeny Centennial’s Addison Fair uses a header to advance the ball during a game against visiting Iowa City West last season. Fair had six goals and two assists for the Jaguars in 2023. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

“We have some returners and some freshmen that have put in an incredible amount of work in the strength program, at open gyms, and with their club teams to get ready for the season,” Allen said. “I think the doors are wide open for many of them to make an impact both on the field and off.”

Former Centennial goalkeeper Nahomi Lopez, a 2018 graduate, is also making an impact after joining Allen’s staff as an assistant coach. She replaces longtime assistant Peter Rameh, who retired at the end of last season.

“Peter was a great asset to our student-athletes and to our staff,” Allen said. “But we look forward to utilizing Nahomi’s previous playing experience in the program, her role as a former collegiate player, and her role as a specialized keeper coach to positively impact the student-athlete experience.”

The Jaguars will open the season later this week. They will host Ames on Friday and Pleasant Valley on Saturday in the Crosstown Invitational.

“We would like to develop a dynamic attack that finds creative ways to create chances and that remains organized defensively with the ability to win balls in the air,” Allen said. “Personally, I would like to see our environment continue to grow leadership skills and a team-first attitude.”

Filed Under: Girls' Soccer, Jaguars Tagged With: Chris Allen, Featured

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