‘We put everything on the line’: Jaguars roll to 7-0 victory over No. 12 Mason City

Ankeny Centennial’s Gabby Berger looks to make a pass during Monday’s game against visiting Mason City at Northview. Berger scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Jaguars to a 7-0 victory. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)

After a long weekend in Bettendorf, the Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer team showed no signs of fatigue on Monday night.

The third-ranked Jaguars scored three goals in the first 11 minutes and went on to defeat No. 12 Mason City, 7-0, in a non-conference game at Northview.

“I am proud of the level we played at coming out of a three-game weekend,” said Centennial coach Chris Allen.

**Ankeny Centennial’s Mady Postma celebrates after scoring the first of her two goals during the first half of Monday’s game. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)**

Gabby Berger scored two goals and added an assist for the Jaguars, which also got a pair of goals from Mady Postma. Those two are now tied for the team lead with seven goals apiece.

Piper Zeman, Rebecca Flick and Hadley Bergan had the team’s other goals.

“I am so proud of how we all fought during the game,” said Zeman. “The past few days have been very exhausting, and we could have let our fatigue get the best of us. Instead, we put everything on the line and continued to play our style and for that I am very proud of everyone.”

**Ankeny Centennial’s Piper Zeman dribbles between two Mason City defenders during Monday’s game. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)**

After Postma scored off a Kenna Gray assist in the 5th minute to give Centennial an early lead, Zeman found the net on a volley about 2 minutes later. She was assisted by Kayle Pezzetti.

“Kayle did an amazing job at following our keys,” Zeman said. “She took the endline, and I timed the run perfectly to get the ball in the back of the net. I’m so excited to finally get my first goal of the season, but the job is not over yet!”

Ankeny Centennial’s Rebecca Flick (right) is congratulated by Gabby Berger after the two players teamed up for a goal during Monday’s game. Flick scored off a Berger assist in the 39th minute to give the Jaguars a 6-0 halftime lead. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)

Berger scored her first goal in the 11th minute off an assist by Emily Conger. Postma then extended the lead to 4-0 with her second goal midway through the first half.

Berger scored again in the 38th minute off an assist by Josie Ehlinger, then assisted on a goal by Flick in the next minute to make it 6-0 at the break.

“We challenged the girls to attack deeper into the attacking third, and we had numerous players step up and find creative ways to gain the end line and deliver crosses,” Allen said. “Their efforts resulted in a lot of chances–somewhere around 43–and ultimately goals.”

**Ankeny Centennial coach Chris Allen talks to his players before the start of Monday’s game. (Photo by Jerrad Downer)**

Bergan completed the scoring with a goal in the 55th minute. It was her first of the season.

The Jaguars improved to 8-1-1 on the season. Mason City’s record dropped to 7-2 with its second straight loss.

Centennial will travel to Waukee on Friday for a CIML Conference showdown against the No. 6 Warriors, who are 3-0-2 in the league and 5-1-3 overall after posting a 2-0 win over No. 4 Ankeny on Monday. The game begins at 7 p.m. at Timberline Middle School.