In a matchup of rated foes, the Ankeny Centennial boys’ soccer team posted a 1-0 victory at Norwalk in a non-conference game on Thursday.
The eighth-ranked Jaguars, who bounced back from Tuesday’s 7-2 loss at No. 2 Dowling Catholic, raised their record to 6-3. Norwalk, the No. 5 team in Class 3A, fell to 4-2-2.
“Norwalk was super organized and defensive-minded,” said Centennial coach Brian Duax. “That made it hard for us to break them down.”
The Jaguars scored the game’s only goal in the second half. Garrett Christensen got the game-winner off an assist by Tate Duax.
It was the first goal of Christensen’s varsity career.
“The boys didn’t get frustrated. They just kept trying to find that one ball that breaks Norwalk down,” Duax said. “That ball finally came when we found Tate isolated 1v1 out wide. He beat the defender, and Garrett made a great front post run to finish the chance.
“It’s hard for young men to stay patient in games like tonight, but I have faith that it will come,” he added.
Centennial will play a CIML Conference game at No. 1 Valley (9-1) on Tuesday.