It can be a crapshoot anytime a high school soccer game goes to a penalty-kick shootout.
However, the Ankeny Centennial girls’ team seems to be defying those odds.
The seventh-ranked Jaguars posted a 1-0 victory at No. 4 Valley in a shootout on Monday, allowing them to tie the Tigers for third place in the final CIML Conference standings.
Centennial improved to 4-0 this season in penalty kicks.
“I think the girls have confidence,” said Centennial coach Chris Allen. “I wasn’t terribly nervous going into it because the girls felt like they had prepared well for that situation. As a coach, you just kind of feed off their energy as well.”
McKenna Hilton and Avery Lewis converted Centennial’s first two kicks before Valley answered each time. Maddison Balashaitis again put the Jaguars ahead, then goalkeeper Rylee Litchfield made a stop on the Tigers’ third shot.
After Emmarie Becker scored to give Centennial a 4-2 advantage, Litchfield got another save to seal the win.
“I think I have confidence because I’ve had a lot of momentum in the past with PKs,” said Litchfield, who finished with five saves.
The Jaguars earlier won shootouts against Omaha (Neb.) Skutt Catholic, Dowling Catholic and Divine Savior (Wis.).
“We work on shooting a lot in practice,” said Centennial midfielder Emily Conger. “I think everyone had confidence in themselves and in each other and in Rylee to go out there and get the job done. Rylee’s come up big several times this season. She’s really grown into the team and done a phenomenal job.”
Both teams had some chances to score during regulation. Litchfield leaped high to make a great save in the 23rd minute, but Valley’s keeper made a similar stop on a blast from Hilton as the first half ended.
The Jaguars then had multiple corner kicks in the second half, but they were unable to find the net. A header by Balashaitis went just left of the post in the 55th minute.
“It was a really good win,” Allen said. “Valley’s a quality side with really good players. What was important for us is that we were able to bring some energy and bring it in a positive way. Tonight, I think the girls played with more freedom. They definitely played hard and battled hard. The result came in PKs, but we looked really good for long moments in the game.”
Allen praised the play of Conger and her fellow midfielders.
“The midfield play was critical tonight,” he said. “The team gave Emily prior to the game an honorary captain’s band, and I felt like she stepped into that role really well. Valley has Ella Anliker in the midfield, and she’s a dangerous player. But I thought our midfielders played really well.”
The Tigers were coming off a 2-1 win over No. 2 Ankeny in a shootout on Friday.
“I think we knew it was going to be a tough game because Valley is always a quality team,” Conger said. “Overall, we went in with confidence and did our best to come out with the win.”
Both teams finished 5-3 in the conference. Centennial raised its overall record to 11-5, while the Tigers dropped to 13-3.
“This is a huge confidence boost for the team,” Litchfield said.
The Jaguars will close out the regular season on Tuesday by hosting a non-conference game against Cedar Falls (9-5). It will be their Senior Night.