Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Balashaitis named to CIML Conference first team

Ankeny’s Alli Macke (left) celebrates with Emma Gott after they teamed up for a goal during the Hawkettes’ 4-0 victory over visiting North Polk on May 6. Both Macke and Gott have been named to the CIML Conference first team along with teammate Sophie Loeffler, who was a unanimous pick along with Macke. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Twelve players from Ankeny and nine more from Ankeny Centennial have received all-conference honors from the girls’ soccer coaches in the CIML Conference.

Senior forward Emma Gott, junior midfielder Alli Macke and junior defender Sophie Loeffler of Ankeny were all named to the first team along with junior defender Maddison Balashaitis of Centennial. Loeffler and Macke were both unanimous picks.

Macke racked up a team-high 15 goals and also contributed five assists for the Hawkettes, who reached the Class 3A semifinals and finished with a 14-5 record. Gott had 14 goals and eight assists.

Loeffler was a key part of a defensive unit that posted 11 shutouts. She also had one goal and two assists.

Ankeny Centennial’s Maddison Balashaitis defends a Johnston player during the Jaguars’ 3-0 victory on April 23 at Centennial. Balashaitis has been named to the CIML Conference first team. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Balashaitis was also a standout defender who helped the Jaguars post six shutouts en route to a 13-7 mark and a state tournament appearance. She had three goals and an assist.

Balashaitis, Gott and Macke were all named to the Class 3A all-tournament team on Saturday.

Centennial placed three more players on the all-conference second team. They are junior forward Ava Martin, sophomore midfielder Emmarie Becker and sophomore defender Evie Boyle.

Martin led the Jaguars with 14 goals and seven assists. Becker had three goals and two assists.

Ankeny goalkeeper Claire Close makes a save during the Hawkettes’ 2-1 loss to eventual champion Bettendorf in the Class 3A semifinals on Thursday at Cownie Park. Close has been named to the CIML Conference second team. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Ankeny placed junior midfielder Camryn Dietz and junior goalkeeper Claire Close on the second team. Dietz had five goals and a team-high 10 assists for the Hawkettes, who shared the league title with Waukee Northwest.

Sophomore forward Ava Paoli of Ankeny, who had three goals and three assists, was a repeat pick to the all-conference third team. She was joined on the squad by teammate Kamryn Scheib, a junior defender.

Seniors McKenna Hilton and Avery Lewis of Centennial both received all-conference honorable mention for the second straight year. Sophomore Avery Taylor of Ankeny was also a repeat honoree.

Senior Liz Proctor, sophomore Sydney Van Houweling and freshmen Sophia Kephart and Isabel Squires of Ankeny also earned all-conference honorable mention along with sophomore Emily Conger and freshmen McKenna Gray and Mady Postma of Centennial.