The Ankeny Centennial boys’ soccer team is still going through some growing pains.
The Jaguars gave up three goals in the first 28 minutes and went on to drop a 4-2 decision to visiting Dowling Catholic in a CIML Conference game on Tuesday. The Maroons improved to 2-0 in the league and 5-0 overall, while Centennial’s records dropped to 0-2 and 2-5.
“It was typical of our year so far–we made some mistakes in the back and got punished,” said Centennial coach Brian Duax. “We dug ourselves into a hole and then battled back, but it was just too much to overcome.”
Dowling scored twice in a span of 40 seconds less than 11 minutes into the game. The first goal came on an own goal.
“We’re really young and getting better, but sometimes under pressure we make some costly mistakes,” Duax said. “Those things happen when you have a team with a bunch of sophomores.”
The Maroons extended the lead to 3-0 when Henrry Abarca scored off a cross from Jonathan Mendez at the 27:10 mark. Mendez eventually finished with a goal and two assists.
Centennial closed the gap to 3-2 at halftime after Ty Duax converted a pair of penalty kicks in the final 7 minutes of the half. He now leads the team with eight goals.
But the Jaguars were unable to score an equalizer in the second half.
“The last 20 minutes of the game we had some really good chances,” Duax said. “If we could have finished, we would have had all the momentum and maybe the game changes. But we were pressing everybody high at the end, and they made a big clearance and walked it into the goal because we had everyone forward.”
Josiah Crowder also had a goal for Dowling. Ian Gredell added an assist.
The Maroons got five saves from Hudson Porter. Centennial goalkeeper Andrew Nelson made four saves.
Dowling outshot the Jaguars by a 13-8 margin.
“When the Dowling coach says ‘Don’t be in our substate’ after they just beat us 4-2, you have to feel like we’re trending in the right direction,” Duax said. “We’ve just got to get over a little hump and start rattling off some wins.”
Centennial will play two games in the Council Bluffs Lewis Central Invitational this weekend. The Jaguars will meet Omaha (Neb.) South on Friday before facing Lewis Central on Saturday.