‘The 2nd half was very good’: Hawks take positives away from loss to Waukee NW

Ankeny’s Cal Wahlberg scores on a penalty kick during Tuesday’s game against visiting Waukee Northwest. It was the lone goal for the Hawks, who went on to drop a 4-1 decision. (Photo by Scott Byers)

The Ankeny boys’ soccer team took some positives away from Tuesday’s game against visiting Waukee Northwest despite suffering a 4-1 loss.

The Hawks got a goal from Cal Wahlberg in the second half and battled Northwest until the end before the second-ranked Wolves eventually sealed the victory.

“The second half was very good,” said Ankeny coach Trevor Fuccio. “We created a lot of opportunities and defended well for the first 30 minutes, and then got caught chasing the game a bit at the end.”

**Ankeny’s Keaton Kobow celebrates after scoring an apparent goal on a header during Tuesday’s game. However, the goal was nullified by an offsides penalty. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

Sophomore Eman Alicic had a hat trick for Northwest, giving him 14 goals on the season. Kenan Quaid scored the team’s other goal and also had an assist as the Wolves improved to 5-1-1 in the CIML Conference and 13-1-1 overall.

Wahlberg scored his eighth goal of the year on a penalty kick for the Hawks, who dropped to 0-6-1 in the league and 4-10-1 overall. He is now tied for the team lead in scoring with fellow senior Keaton Kobow, who scored on a header earlier in the game only to have the goal negated by an offsides penalty.

Ankeny goalkeepers Jackson Dockendorff and Carter Lee combined for 12 saves in the loss.

**Ankeny goalkeeper Carter Lee leaps to make a save during Tuesday’s game. He had five saves for the Hawks. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

“Overall, we showed that we can compete with the top teams and can find a way to be dangerous if we defend properly,” Fuccio said.

Ankeny will close out the regular season on Friday by hosting a conference game against No. 4 Urbandale, which is 3-2-1 in the league and 9-2-3 overall. The J-Hawks are riding a five-game winning streak and are unbeaten in their last eight contests.

Ankeny was awarded a No. 4 seed in Class 4A Substate 1 by the Iowa High School Athletic Association on Tuesday. The Hawks will host Des Moines East (2-10) in a substate quarterfinal on Tuesday.

**Ankeny’s Michael Sage dribbles the ball up the field during Tuesday’s game. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

“We are a little frustrated with the seeding as in Bound we are ranked 20th in 4A at the time of seeding, so to be a No. 4 seed playing in the play-in game is frustrating as it encourages us to schedule an easier schedule,” Fuccio said. “With that being said, when you only have four wins, that does nullify that argument a bit. Also, we knew we’d have to beat a No. 1 seed to get to state anyway, but I was hoping it would be in the substate final. So it gives our boys some extra motivation.”

With a win over East, the Hawks would play at No. 5 Southeast Polk (10-2-4) in a substate semifinal on May 27.

“The last two years we’ve made it to state and each substate match was a bit chaotic, so we won’t focus on Southeast Polk until after Des Moines East,” Fuccio said. “East has shown they are improving as their results have gotten better as the year goes on. So we will prepare for a tough matchup on Tuesday.”