Once the Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer team found the net, the third-ranked Jaguars cruised to an impressive road win on Tuesday.
Centennial scored two goals in the final 4 minutes of the first half and went on to post a 4-0 victory over No. 12 Cedar Falls in a non-conference game to close out the regular season. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Tigers (9-4-2).
“We took the majority of the half to find our way into the game and struggled with some things that we are usually great at,” said Centennial coach Chris Allen, whose team raised its record to 12-3-2. “Overall, the second half provided a better look at our identity, and we finished with every healthy player getting minutes.”
Mady Postma scored the game-winner in the 37th minute off an assist by Ava Martin. It was the first of two assists for Martin, who now holds the school’s single-season (15) and career (31) assists records.
“Mady added energy to the game and had a powerful finish off an Ava deflection,” Allen said. “She stayed strong throughout the match.”
It was the fourth goal of the season for Postma.
“After watching some film, I executed what coach Allen had been saying and eating up space,” said Postma, who is celebrating her birthday this week. “I saw Ava’s rebound, and I just had to let it fly.
“On the bench, I visualized myself making the plays we needed, and it helped us in the end,” she added.
About 1 minute later, Martin connected for her team-leading 12th goal. She was assisted by Jaeden Jackson.
Midway through the second half, Emmarie Becker extended the lead when she scored off an assist by Evie Boyle.
“Emmarie was another hard worker, and she had a great volley on Evie’s corner,” Allen said. “The game rewarded her for fantastic individual efforts.”
The Jaguars completed the scoring in the 71st minute, when Addison Fair recorded her seventh goal of the season. She was assisted by Martin.
“I am really proud of us and how we have gotten better every game,” Postma said. “And how fierce we have become.”
Centennial goalkeeper Rylee Litchfield made one save in the win. She tied Kate Bergan’s single-season school record of 11 shutouts that was set in 2023.