The players on the Ankeny Centennial boys’ soccer team got some much-needed rest on Sunday.
The Jaguars went 1-2 in the Iowa City West Invitational on Friday and Saturday, completing a grueling stretch of four games in 48 hours that began with Thursday’s 4-3 loss at Urbandale.
“We were exhausted,” said Centennial coach Brian Duax, whose team is now 1-3 on the season. “No question about it.”
The Jaguars opened the tournament on Friday with a 2-0 loss to Cedar Rapids Prairie. Gavin Lewis scored both goals for the Hawks (1-0).
Centennial bounced back on Saturday with a 3-2 win over Iowa City West (1-1) in a shootout. The Jaguars overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit to earn their first victory of the season.
Lucas De La Cuba and Ty Duax each had a goal in the second half, while Brock Brazeau added an assist. Beau Brazeau eventually made the game-winning penalty kick.
“Iowa City West is a perennial power,” Duax said. “To battle back and beat them is pretty huge.”
Centennial then closed out the tournament with a 4-3 loss to Cedar Rapids Washington in another shootout. This time, the Jaguars rallied from a 3-0 deficit to force the game into penalty kicks.
“It’s like we almost spot teams goals and then we come back,” Duax said. “We keep having lapses and mental mistakes that are costing us goals.”
Holden Smith had a pair of goals for the Warriors (1-1). Logan Barton added a goal and an assist.
Duax, Andrew Kruger and Logan Page each scored a goal in the loss. Ben Ridlen contributed an assist.
“Ty has scored in every game except for the one against Prairie,” Duax said. “Lucas has been really good for us, and both Brazeaus have been, too. And Ridlen has been an absolute monster.
“We’ve got some pieces, but right now our youth and inconsistencies are hurting us. We’re really young–we play a lot of sophomores. It takes some time to put things together and to learn to play the style we want to play,” he added.
The Jaguars will host a non-conference game against Mason City (1-0) on Tuesday at Northview.