Ankeny Fanatic

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Brian Duax

‘He’s a really special player’: Obia’s hat trick leads Valley boys past Jaguars

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Valley's Jaren Obia is one of the state's top boys' soccer players. He's even better when he's getting some help. Obia had a hat trick on Tuesday to lead the Tigers to a 4-2 victory over visiting Ankeny Centennial. The Jaguars' record dropped to 1-2 on the season. Centennial coach Brian Duax praised Obia, but said that his team gave the Valley star … [Read more...] about ‘He’s a really special player’: Obia’s hat trick leads Valley boys past Jaguars

‘We learned a lot about ourselves’: Jags top C.R. Washington, fall to I.C. West

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If nothing else, the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team is now battle-tested. The Jaguars opened their season on Saturday by splitting a pair of games in eastern Iowa. They posted a 1-0 victory over Cedar Rapids Washington before dropping a 2-0 decision to host Iowa City West. "We traveled with 21 guys, and we were down to 17 by the time we played … [Read more...] about ‘We learned a lot about ourselves’: Jags top C.R. Washington, fall to I.C. West

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ soccer team

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The success of the Ankeny boys' soccer program didn't happen overnight. The Hawks struggled to a 2-12-2 record in their first season of competition in 1985, and they didn't post a winning mark until 1989, when coach Mark McDougal led the team to a 7-6-3 campaign. The 1990s saw some gradual progress under McDougal and then Peter Rameh, who took over the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ soccer team

Scrimmage between Centennial, Johnston boys ends with a shootout

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It was only a scrimmage, but the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team showed a lot of spunk Friday in its exhibition game against visiting Johnston. The Dragons jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Centennial rallied to forge a 4-4 tie at the end of regulation. Johnston then prevailed in a shootout, 5-4. "I didn't know what to expect after basically a … [Read more...] about Scrimmage between Centennial, Johnston boys ends with a shootout

Jaguars return several players from 2019 team that posted 13-4 record

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Brian Duax won't have to wait much longer to see if the potential that his Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team has comes to fruition. The Jaguars will play their first game in nearly two years when they open the season against visiting Johnston on March 26. "It feels great to be back at it," said Duax. "The excitement is super high. We are still taking … [Read more...] about Jaguars return several players from 2019 team that posted 13-4 record

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Roland Agyeman, Centennial boys’ soccer

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Roland Agyeman is a senior on the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team. He would have been one of the Jaguars' top returning players this season. Agyeman started 10 games for Centennial a year ago. He helped the Jaguars to a 13-4 record. Here is some inside info on Agyeman: How are you dealing with the pandemic? Are you getting used to the "new … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Roland Agyeman, Centennial boys’ soccer

‘Some things we can’t control’: Athletes, coaches react to cancellation of sports

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Katie Petersen got together with some of her Ankeny Centennial teammates on Thursday night to continue preparing for what she thought would be her final high school track season. "I was just at the track with a few friends, and we were talking about our new meet schedules and who was going to be on our shuttle (hurdle relay)," said Petersen, one of the … [Read more...] about ‘Some things we can’t control’: Athletes, coaches react to cancellation of sports

Updated schedule provides glimmer of hope for spring sport athletes, coaches

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A glimmer of hope arrived earlier this week for Will Blevins, Jaci Webb and the rest of the spring sport athletes throughout the state of Iowa. On Monday, an updated schedule for spring sports was released in a joint statement from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association. All spring activities had … [Read more...] about Updated schedule provides glimmer of hope for spring sport athletes, coaches

Jaguars’ season ends with stunning loss to S.E. Polk in double overtime

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The season came to a stunning end for the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team. The fourth-ranked Jaguars lost to visiting Southeast Polk, 1-0, in a Class 3A substate semifinal on Wednesday. The Rams scored the game-winning goal in double overtime. Centennial closed out the season with a 13-4 record. The Jaguars had rolled to an 8-2 victory at Southeast … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ season ends with stunning loss to S.E. Polk in double overtime

Motivated Jaguars topple Urbandale, claim outright Central Conference crown

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team didn't want to stew over a loss for 11 days. Thanks to a solid performance in Friday's showdown against visiting Urbandale, the Jaguars won't have to. Fifth-ranked Centennial posted a 2-0 victory over the No. 6 J-Hawks in the regular-season finale for both teams. Combined with No. 14 Ankeny's win over No. 15 … [Read more...] about Motivated Jaguars topple Urbandale, claim outright Central Conference crown

Ankeny boys beat Johnston, prevent Dragons from tying for conference title

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After knocking off its crosstown rival on Tuesday, the Ankeny boys' soccer team helped out Ankeny Centennial on Friday. The 14th-ranked Hawks posted a 2-0 victory over No. 15 Johnston in their CIML Central Conference finale at Ankeny. The loss prevented the Dragons from tying Centennial for the league title. "We wanted to make sure that we approached … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys beat Johnston, prevent Dragons from tying for conference title

Flip out, Charlie: Pritchard’s late heroics give Hawks 2-1 win over Centennial

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Ankeny's Charlie Pritchard likes to celebrate big goals with a backflip. On Tuesday, the senior forward scored perhaps the biggest goal of his high school soccer career. Pritchard dribbled down the left side of the field and fought off two defenders before finding the back of the net in the 67th minute to give the 14th-ranked Hawks a 2-1 victory at No. … [Read more...] about Flip out, Charlie: Pritchard’s late heroics give Hawks 2-1 win over Centennial

Crosstown rivals gear up for top-10 showdowns at Ankeny Derby

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Tuesday's Ankeny Derby will feature a pair of top-10 soccer showdowns at Ankeny Centennial. In the opener, the sixth-ranked Centennial girls' team (1-1, 8-3) will host No. 3 Ankeny (2-0, 10-2) at 6 p.m. It will be a rematch of last year's Class 3A championship game, which was won by the Jaguars, 3-2. "I'm sure Ankeny will be fired up and rightfully … [Read more...] about Crosstown rivals gear up for top-10 showdowns at Ankeny Derby

Lineup changes pay off as Jaguars defeat Hoover for 12th win of season

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Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer coach Brian Duax recently moved his team's leading scorer, Will Overberg, to the Jaguars' defensive backfield. It might seem like an odd move, but Centennial has yet to give up an "earned goal" in the two games since Duax changed his lineup. On Thursday, the fifth-ranked Jaguars posted a 3-1 victory over No. 16 Des Moines … [Read more...] about Lineup changes pay off as Jaguars defeat Hoover for 12th win of season

Jaguars dominate Dowling Catholic, keep Central Conference title hopes alive

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The final score didn't reflect how Ankeny Centennial dominated Tuesday's boys' soccer game at Dowling Catholic. The fifth-ranked Jaguars came away with a 2-1 victory on a rainy night, handing No. 14 Dowling its fourth straight loss. "It was quite possibly the most convincing 2-1 game I've ever seen," said Centennial coach Brian Duax. "We gifted them … [Read more...] about Jaguars dominate Dowling Catholic, keep Central Conference title hopes alive

No. 7 Pleasant Valley snaps Centennial boys’ seven-game winning streak

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Two of the hottest boys' soccer teams in Class 3A collided on Saturday in Iowa City. It turned out to be a wake-up call for second-ranked Ankeny Centennial. The Jaguars dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 7 Pleasant Valley, ending their seven-game winning streak. The Spartans (9-1), meanwhile, have now won nine straight games since a season-opening loss to … [Read more...] about No. 7 Pleasant Valley snaps Centennial boys’ seven-game winning streak

Late goals by Overberg, Besic allow Jaguars to escape with 2-1 victory

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Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer coach Brian Duax was worried that his team might be overlooking Johnston. He was almost prophetic. The second-ranked Jaguars trailed for most of the game before scoring twice in the last 14 minutes to escape with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday at Centennial. "I had a feeling that the boys were overlooking Johnston because of … [Read more...] about Late goals by Overberg, Besic allow Jaguars to escape with 2-1 victory

Centennial soccer standouts to become future rivals on the pitch

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A quartet of seniors has led the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team to a 9-1 record and a No. 2 ranking in Class 3A heading into Tuesday night's game against No. 11 Johnston. In the future, though, the longtime friends and teammates will become rivals on the pitch. Forward Will Overberg verbally committed last week to play for Luther College, while … [Read more...] about Centennial soccer standouts to become future rivals on the pitch

Jaguars rise to No. 2 in Class 3A rankings, then win conference opener

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After rising to No. 2 in the latest Class 3A rankings, the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team opened CIML Central Conference play with a 3-0 victory at No. 16 Ames on Thursday. Nick Ashton, Michael Brandt and Will Overberg each had a goal and an assist in the win. Michael Poitry was also credited with an assist. "It was a really good win," said … [Read more...] about Jaguars rise to No. 2 in Class 3A rankings, then win conference opener