Jaguars are No. 3, Hawkettes No. 5 in preseason Class 3A girls’ soccer rankings

Ankeny’s Ava Paoli battles for the ball during the Hawkettes’ 3-0 loss to Ankeny Centennial last season. Both Ankeny teams are ranked in the top five of the preseason Class 3A rankings from the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union. The Jaguars are ranked third, while Ankeny is fifth. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

The Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union has announced its preseason soccer rankings, and it’s no surprise that the CIML Conference once again dominates the top of the Class 3A list.

Defending state champion Waukee Northwest begins the season where it left off last year–in the No. 1 spot. The Wolves are one of six CIML schools ranked among the top seven teams in Class 3A.

Ankeny Centennial is ranked third after reaching the Class 3A semifinals a year ago. The Jaguars will host Iowa City West in their season opener on Friday.

**Ankeny Centennial goalkeeper Rylee Litchfield puts the ball into play during the Jaguars’ victory over Ankeny last year. (Photo by Evan Reiter)**

Ankeny, which also qualified for state last year, is ranked fifth. The Hawkettes will host No. 11 Cedar Falls in their opener on Thursday.

Here is the complete top-15 rankings, along with each team’s record from a year ago:

1. Waukee Northwest 15-1-2

2. Valley 15-3-2

3. ANKENY CENTENNIAL 15-4-2

4. Linn-Mar (Marion) 17-4

5. ANKENY 11-3-3

6. Waukee 10-2-6

7. Johnston 10-4-4

8. Iowa City Liberty 14-2-2

9. Pleasant Valley 7-9-2

10. Bettendorf 12-5-3

11. Cedar Falls 10-5-2

12. Cedar Rapids Prairie 9-4-3

13. Ames 10-6-1

14. Southeast Polk 8-7-2

15. Indianola 10-7-1