Emma Gott and Alli Macke each scored a pair of goals to lead the fourth-ranked Ankeny girls’ soccer team to a 7-1 victory at Cedar Rapids Prairie in a non-conference game on Friday.
The Hawkettes built a 4-0 halftime lead and cruised to the win, raising their overall record to 4-1. Prairie dropped to 2-3.
“We were happy to get all 20 varsity girls minutes and improve on our variety in the attack while adding in some set piece goals we’ve been missing,” said Ankeny coach Simon Brown.
Macke scored both of her goals in the first half. Isabel Squires and Camryn Dietz also found the net in the opening 40 minutes.
Ankeny extended its lead to 6-0 when Gott scored back-to-back goals in the second half. Presley Sullivan then added another goal before Prairie scored a late goal to avoid a shutout.
“We started the game off on the front foot and didn’t really look back,” Brown said. “We scored two set pieces and that helped us settle down, and find some wide spaces around Prairie’s compact defense 6. Emma continued on her scoring form, and we were able to get Macke out after 50 minutes before her track meet (on Saturday). Cam is improving and got her first goal of the season. Izzy and Presley got their first goals for Ankeny also.”
Dietz had a pair of assists in the win. Gott and Elizabeth Proctor each added one.
Ankeny will play another non-conference game at Cedar Falls (1-3) on Monday. The Hawkettes will then host No. 7 Southeast Polk (6-1) and No. 10 Dowling Catholic (0-3) in CIML Conference games on Tuesday and Friday, respectively.
“We have a busy week with three games, including two more top-10 (opponents),” Brown said. “This young group is improving, and we are excited for the challenge.”
