Two defensive juggernauts collided on Tuesday as the top-ranked Ankeny girls’ soccer team hosted No. 2 Valley in a showdown between the top two squads in Class 3A.
And thanks to a new rule from the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union, the Hawkettes and Tigers battled to a 0-0 draw.
In previous seasons, the game would have been extended into a pair of 10-minute overtime periods followed by a penalty kick shootout if necessary. But Ankeny coach Simon Brown was more than happy to come away with a tie.
“It was just an early season game that was scrappy,” Brown said. “These games for the most part there’s not much difference between the teams–just one goal here or there maybe–but this year you’re not being punished for just being equal with the opposite team. If 1 and 2 tie, that’s ok. It just means they’re very close to each other. Neither team has to be punished with a loss in PKs when they carried themselves very well for 80 minutes.”
It was the CIML Conference opener for both teams, who are now an identical 3-0-1 on the season. Valley has yet to allow a goal in four games, while Ankeny has allowed just one–which came on a late penalty kick Friday against Pella at the Crosstown Invitational.
Alli Macke took five of the Hawkettes’ 11 shots on Tuesday. Sydney Van Houweling had three shots, two of them on goal.
Ankeny goalkeeper Claire Close finished with three saves.
“Both teams were trying to score. It wasn’t like both teams were trying not to lose,” Brown said. “I just thought both teams were very equal. There weren’t a lot of massive chances, just a few chances here and there. But I was happy for the girls that we showed we can compete with one of the other best teams in the state.”
Ankeny has overcome a rash of injuries to remain among the top title contenders in Class 3A. Senior standouts Camryn Dietz and Sophie Loeffler are among the players currently sidelined by injuries.
“We’re a really young team now with the girls that we’ve lost,” Brown said. “We only started two seniors tonight, and we’re supposed to be starting five or six. But the girls we have out there are doing really well. We’re learning as we go along who can play what position, and we’re really happy with where we’re at.
“We’re progressing with each game,” he added.
