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Hawkettes top Dallas Center-Grimes, then struggle in loss to unranked C.R. Prairie

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Some of the Ankeny girls’ soccer players celebrate following the Hawkettes’ 2-0 win over visiting Dallas Center-Grimes on Friday. From left are Ava Paoli, Alli Macke, Isabel Squires and Abby Steinkamp. Ankeny then dropped a 2-1 decision to visiting Cedar Rapids Prairie on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

Ankeny looked like two different girls’ soccer teams in a span of less than 24 hours.

After posting a 2-0 win over visiting Dallas Center-Grimes on Friday night, the fourth-ranked Hawkettes returned to their home pitch on Saturday afternoon and dropped a 2-1 decision to unranked Cedar Rapids Prairie in another non-conference game.

“I think the girls had a tough time coming back so quickly after a physically and mentally draining game with DCG,” said Ankeny assistant coach Trevor Neary, who filled in for head coach Simon Brown on Saturday. “No excuses–just a tough reality.”

Ankeny coach Simon Brown (left) talks with assistant coach Trevor Neary following Friday’s game. Neary coached the team on Saturday in Brown’s absence. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

Emma Meier had a goal and an assist for Prairie (3-2-3), which overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit. Olivia Divoky also scored a goal.

Goalkeeper Lydia Merchan contributed 11 saves. The Hawkettes scored an own goal in the first half, when Ava Paoli played the ball across the box and it was deflected in.

“We created four or five great opportunities inside of the first 10 minutes and should have scored on all of them,” said Neary, whose team is now 5-2-2 on the season. “Put a couple away, game is completely different. That ended up being the story of the game–chance after chance with no end product.

Ankeny’s defense attempts to clear the ball during Friday’s game. The Hawkettes recorded their sixth clean sheet of the season. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

“But all credit to Prairie who stayed in it and made the game difficult for stretches and found ways to create a few problems. They took their chances and we didn’t; credit to them,” he added.

It was a much different story on Friday, when Ankeny dominated the No. 2 team in Class 2A. The loss dropped Dallas Center-Grimes’ record to 4-3-1.

“This was probably our most complete performance of the season against the best team in 2A,” Brown said. “DCG always challenges themselves–they play a complete schedule, always want to play CIML schools, and have CIML wins every season. We wish every team in Iowa had the same mindset as coach Dan (James) and his girls and tested themselves against CIML teams.”

Ankeny’s Kiersten Petersen scores a goal during Friday’s win over Dallas Center-Grimes. It was the first goal of her varsity career. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

After a scoreless first half, Ankeny took the lead on a goal by freshman Kiersten Petersen–the first of her varsity career. Alli Macke later found the net for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.

“We had some great chances early on,” Brown said. “Then in the second half Kiersten scored off a second phase corner (kick), and Macke scored late to seal the win.”

The Hawkettes will play a CIML Conference game at Southeast Polk (1-3-2) on Friday.

Ankeny’s Alli Macke dribbles the ball during Friday’s game. She scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season in the Hawkettes’ win. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)