‘I’m incredibly proud of the composure we played with’: Hawkettes top No. 2 Norwalk

Ankeny’s Bella Sullivan advances the ball during Tuesday’s game at Norwalk. The Hawkettes overcame a 1-0 deficit to post a 2-1 victory in a matchup of top-five teams. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

Abby Steinkamp scored the go-ahead goal in the second half as the Ankeny girls’ soccer team posted a 2-1 victory at Norwalk in a non-conference battle between top-five squads on Tuesday.

The fifth-ranked Hawkettes overcame a 1-0 deficit to improve their record to 4-3 on the season. Norwalk, the No. 2 team in Class 2A, suffered its first loss.

The Warriors (6-1) had outscored their first six opponents by a 25-1 margin.

**Ankeny’s Avery Taylor heads the ball toward the goal during Tuesday’s game. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)**

“I’m very pleased with the result,” said Ankeny coach Gavin Mason. “Norwalk is a fantastic team, and we knew that we would need to bring the intensity. The girls were really up for it from the start, and we completely controlled play. I thought we were very unfortunate to give up the free kick that we conceded (a goal) from, but our response was great.”

Norwalk took the lead in the first half on a goal by Addy Wood. It was her fifth goal of the season.

Ankeny then got an equalizer from Isabel Squires in the 31st minute. It was her fourth goal of the year, tying Ava Paoli for the team lead.

“We created several good opportunities, and Izzy was able to pounce on a rebound before the half,” Mason said.

Ankeny’s Isabel Squires scores an equalizer off a rebound during the first half of Tuesday’s game. It was her fourth goal of the season, tying Ava Paoli for the team lead. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

In the second half, the Hawkettes raised their level of play even higher.

“We played as well as we have all season after halftime,” Mason said. “We created a multitude of chances and just weren’t able to finish. But the girls kept to the task and trusted that the goal would come, and I’m incredibly proud of the composure we played with.”

Ankeny eventually got the winning goal from Steinkamp. She found the net for the second time this season.

**Ankeny’s Abby Steinkamp (right) celebrates with Ava Paoli after scoring the go-ahead goal during the second half of Tuesday’s game. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)**

“I was happy for Abby to get the goal. She worked very hard for us tonight and has done so all season,” Mason said. “I thought Kyla (Schaapveld) and Allison (Hawkins) did a great job tonight for us defensively and in possession. Bella Sullivan, Soph (Kephart), Syd (VanHouweling) and Kiersten (Petersen) all put in great performances and helped us to be very solid defensively.”

The Hawkettes will host a CIML Conference game against Southeast Polk on Friday. The Rams are 0-4 in the league and 1-7-1 overall.

Southeast Polk dropped a 5-1 decision to No. 1 Waukee Northwest on Tuesday for its fifth consecutive loss.