On Tuesday, the Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer team enjoyed the thrill of victory by defeating its crosstown rival.
Just three days later, the Jaguars experienced the agony of defeat on the same field.
Third-ranked Centennial dominated possession of the ball and had numerous chances to score, but couldn’t find the net and dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 2 Valley in the Class 3A semifinals on Friday at the Lied Recreation Fields in Ames.
“I thought we had a lot of the ball,” said Centennial coach Chris Allen. “We were getting in (to the box); it just didn’t fall our way. And unfortunately, sometimes that’s the game.”
The Jaguars outshot Valley by a 21-7 margin, but the Tigers got 10 saves from sophomore goalkeeper Reagan Gardner. Valley (17-2-1) recorded its 11th clean sheet of the season.
“They defended us well, and we were still finding ways in despite how well they defended,” said Allen, whose team finished the season at 16-3-1. “And then you’ve also got to beat a really good keeper after you get in. She had a good game.”
The Tigers handed Centennial two of its three losses. They also posted a 2-1 win on April 28 at Valley Stadium.
This was the fourth semifinal meeting between the two programs. Valley also won in 2017 and 2021, while the Jaguars prevailed in 2022 and went on to capture the title.
Seniors Emmarie Becker, Evie Boyle, Emily Conger and Piper Zeman played their final game for Centennial on Friday.
“Those seniors made four state tournaments and two semifinals in that run,” Allen said. “They’ve given everybody we’ve played everything they could handle. I’m very proud of them.”
After Centennial’s Josie Ehlinger deflected a Valley shot out of bounds in the 29th minute, the Tigers’ Olivia Rotich scored the game’s only goal off the ensuing corner kick by Sophia Costello. The junior’s 21st goal of the season came with some controversy.
Centennial goalkeeper Rylee Litchfield got up off the ground with the ball, but the call stood.
“It did not go all the way in,” Litchfield said. “I think (the officials’) view may have been blocked.”
There was a big scrum in front of the net. Rotich made a run to the far post and appeared to hit the ball with her shoulder as she fell to the ground.
“It’s hard for anybody to tell (if it was a goal),” Litchfield said. “All we can do is try our best and we did, and we had such a great season.”
Allen said his goalkeeper had the best view of the play.
“Rylee knows best. She was on top of the ball,” he said. “But there was nothing we could do about it. Once the whistle is blown and the play starts, you have to manage the game from there.”
Over the final 50 minutes, Centennial repeatedly threatened to score an equalizer. Mady Postma led the Jaguars with five shots, while Kayle Pezzetti took four.
However, none of them found the net.
“We had a lot of chances,” Litchfield said. “Unfortunately, we just couldn’t finish.”
Valley advanced to play No. 1 Waukee Northwest (13-0-3) in Saturday’s title game at the Cyclone Sports Complex. The defending champion Wolves beat No. 5 Bettendorf, 1-0, in the other semifinal.
Litchfield was proud of her team’s effort in the loss.
“I’ve got an incredible back line,” she said. “I’ve got Evie, Hadley (Bergan) and Kenna (Gray), and Josie (Ehlinger) out on the wings, and up top you’ve got Jaeden (Jackson) and Kayle and they’re just awesome. I’ve gotten everything from this season that I could ask for.”
The emergence of younger players like Jackson and Pezzetti bodes well for the team’s future.
“I’m so excited,” Litchfield said. “Those two have stepped up so much. They’ve become real leaders on the team.”
