At this point, the Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer team is just looking to build some momentum for postseason play.
On Tuesday, the sixth-ranked Jaguars did just that with a 2-1 victory over No. 10 Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference game at Centennial. Addison Fair scored the winning goal in the 59th minute for Centennial, which improved to 4-2 in the league and 10-4 overall.
The Rams’ records dropped to 2-5 and 9-5.
“Southeast Polk is really athletic all over the field,” said Centennial coach Chris Allen. “They’re a much improved team. It was definitely a tough game amongst a tough week of matches.”
Centennial took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute on an own goal. A corner kick by McKenna Hilton was deflected into the net by one of the Southeast Polk defenders.
Jenevieve Kuriki scored the equalizer for the Rams in the 45th minute. It was her second goal of the season.
“I think Southeast Polk is a top-eight team—I don’t know who I would drop out, but they belong in the conversation,” Allen said. “I believe they generated more chances on goal against us than anyone we have faced so far. Rylee (Litchfield) made some fearless saves and stops in the face of their direct attack.”
The Jaguars scored the go-ahead goal in the 59th minute. Fair followed in a shot by Ava Martin for her second goal of the year.
Martin was credited with her team-leading fourth assist.
“A lot of our goals are happening when we’re getting players forward,” Allen said. “They’re not always the prettiest goals, but when the girls commit to getting forward together and being gritty in the box, that’s when we’ve had a lot of success this season. That goal was another example of that.”
Alea Wolfe had seven saves for the Rams in the loss. Litchfield finished with six saves.
Coming off a 3-0 win over No. 14 Mason City on Monday, the Jaguars were ready for some rest after Tuesday’s slugfest.
“We needed lots of ice packs after the game,” Allen said.
When the Class 3A regional pairings are announced on Thursday, Centennial will likely receive a No. 1 seed. Allen is hoping that Southeast Polk won’t be among the teams placed in the Jaguars’ bracket.
“They wouldn’t be my first choice (of a potential opponent) due to their physicality most of all,” he said. “It would be hard to come out of that (game) healthy.”
The Jaguars will host a conference game against No. 1 Waukee Northwest on Friday. The Wolves are 6-1 in the league and 11-2 overall.
Northwest can earn a share of the conference title with a victory and a loss by No. 3 Ankeny at No. 2 Valley.
“I think our team has been growing with each game, but Northwest will be a big test for us,” Allen said.
