Ankeny Fanatic

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Chris Allen

‘These kids genuinely enjoy each other’: Jags look to have fun while chasing title

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Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer players Maddison Balashaitis, Addison Fair, Olivia Kroska and Ava Martin have all experienced the joy of holding up a state championship trophy. The four seniors all saw some action as freshmen on the Jaguars' Class 3A title team in 2022. "Experience and joy will be huge strengths for our team," said Centennial coach … [Read more...] about ‘These kids genuinely enjoy each other’: Jags look to have fun while chasing title

Kovacs scores early goal, but Mavericks fall to Cal Poly Pomona in Div. II title game

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An early goal from former Ankeny Centennial star Courtney Kovacs wasn't enough to lift the Minnesota State women's soccer team to its first NCAA Division II national championship on Sunday. Cal Poly Pomona responded with a pair of goals to post a 2-1 victory at Sportsplex in Matthews, N.C. The loss ended a 23-game unbeaten streak for the Mavericks, who … [Read more...] about Kovacs scores early goal, but Mavericks fall to Cal Poly Pomona in Div. II title game

‘I’m absolutely proud of our girls’: Jaguars lose heartbreaker to Waukee NW in PKs

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There was nothing for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer players to hang their heads about. The eighth-ranked Jaguars ended their season on Tuesday with a 3-2 loss to No. 1 Waukee Northwest in a shootout in the Class 3A quarterfinals of the state tournament at Cownie Park. "I'm not going to fault the players," said Centennial coach Chris Allen, whose … [Read more...] about ‘I’m absolutely proud of our girls’: Jaguars lose heartbreaker to Waukee NW in PKs

‘I’m glad they get another shot at it’: Centennial seniors earn 4th trip to state

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The seniors on the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team will get at least one more opportunity to play at Cownie Park. The eighth-ranked Jaguars advanced to next week's state tournament by defeating No. 11 Southeast Polk, 2-1, in a Class 3A regional final on Thursday at Centennial. "I was just talking to Gabby (Lawrence), McKenna (Hilton) and Avery … [Read more...] about ‘I’m glad they get another shot at it’: Centennial seniors earn 4th trip to state

Jaguars romp past C.R. Jefferson, will host S.E. Polk in regional final Thursday

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A big early lead was just what the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team needed. Facing back-to-back games in postseason play due to Tuesday's postponement, the eighth-ranked Jaguars jumped out to a 5-0 halftime lead and rolled past visiting Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 9-0, in a Class 3A regional semifinal on Wednesday. "We had an opportunity to rotate some … [Read more...] about Jaguars romp past C.R. Jefferson, will host S.E. Polk in regional final Thursday

‘They were clogging the middle’: Jaguars suffer frustrating 1-0 loss to Cedar Falls

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This wasn't the way that the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer players wanted their Senior Night to go. The seventh-ranked Jaguars finished the regular season on Tuesday with a 1-0 loss to visiting Cedar Falls in a non-conference game. The Tigers were outshot by a 16-2 margin, but they scored the game-winner when Zoe Zylstra found the net in the second half … [Read more...] about ‘They were clogging the middle’: Jaguars suffer frustrating 1-0 loss to Cedar Falls

‘This is a huge confidence boost’: Jaguars top Valley, remain unbeaten in shootouts

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It can be a crapshoot anytime a high school soccer game goes to a penalty-kick shootout. However, the Ankeny Centennial girls' team seems to be defying those odds. The seventh-ranked Jaguars posted a 1-0 victory at No. 4 Valley in a shootout on Monday, allowing them to tie the Tigers for third place in the final CIML Conference standings. Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘This is a huge confidence boost’: Jaguars top Valley, remain unbeaten in shootouts

No. 1 Wolves top Centennial girls, earn share of CIML Conference championship

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Freshman Ayrissa Robinson recorded a hat trick to lead the top-ranked Waukee Northwest girls' soccer team to a 4-2 victory at No. 7 Ankeny Centennial on Friday, allowing the Wolves to earn a share of the CIML Conference title when No. 2 Ankeny lost at No. 4 Valley in a shootout. Northwest scored twice off corner kicks in the second half to break a 2-2 … [Read more...] about No. 1 Wolves top Centennial girls, earn share of CIML Conference championship

Centennial girls edge S.E. Polk on Fair’s goal, raise their record to 10-4 on season

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At this point, the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team is just looking to build some momentum for postseason play. On Tuesday, the sixth-ranked Jaguars did just that with a 2-1 victory over No. 10 Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference game at Centennial. Addison Fair scored the winning goal in the 59th minute for Centennial, which improved to 4-2 in the … [Read more...] about Centennial girls edge S.E. Polk on Fair’s goal, raise their record to 10-4 on season

Jaguars take advantage of strong wind for 3-0 victory over No. 14 Mason City

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An Olimpico helped the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team to a 3-0 victory over No. 14 Mason City in a non-conference game on Monday at Centennial. Evie Boyle scored directly from a corner kick in the 25th minute to break a 0-0 tie and the Jaguars went on to score all of their goals in the first half, when they had a strong wind at their … [Read more...] about Jaguars take advantage of strong wind for 3-0 victory over No. 14 Mason City

‘It feels awesome’: No. 3 Ankeny girls end scoring drought, winless streak vs. Jags

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The Ankeny girls' soccer team finally figured out a way to score against its crosstown rival. All it took was a penalty kick. Junior Camryn Dietz found the net at the 21:33 mark and the third-ranked Hawkettes went on to beat No. 6 Ankeny Centennial, 1-0, on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. It was Ankeny's first win over the Jaguars since 2015 and its first … [Read more...] about ‘It feels awesome’: No. 3 Ankeny girls end scoring drought, winless streak vs. Jags

Jaguars rally to defeat Whitefish Bay, finish 2-1 at Tournament of Champions

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team completed a 2-1 weekend in the Tournament of Champions at Bettendorf by defeating Whitefish Bay (Wis.), 2-1, on Saturday. All three games were played indoors. Ava Martin scored the go-ahead goal for the sixth-ranked Jaguars, who overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to raise their overall record to 8-3. "I thought … [Read more...] about Jaguars rally to defeat Whitefish Bay, finish 2-1 at Tournament of Champions

Martin goes ‘beast mode’, records hat trick in Jaguars’ 3-0 win over Johnston

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Looking to bounce back from Friday's loss at Waukee, the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team turned to Ava Martin for some offensive production. The junior forward delivered in a big way. Martin recorded a hat trick and the fourth-ranked Jaguars defeated No. 12 Johnston, 3-0, in a CIML Conference game on Tuesday at Centennial. "I just felt like we … [Read more...] about Martin goes ‘beast mode’, records hat trick in Jaguars’ 3-0 win over Johnston

Waukee girls snap Centennial’s 4-game winning streak with goal in 2nd half

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When the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team went to the locker room at halftime during Friday's game at Waukee, the Jaguars felt pretty good about being knotted in a scoreless tie. "We were going against the wind for the first half and despite being against the wind, I thought we played really good soccer," said Centennial coach Chris Allen. "We … [Read more...] about Waukee girls snap Centennial’s 4-game winning streak with goal in 2nd half

‘It was a good team win’: Jaguars shut down Iowa City West for 2-0 victory

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A pair of early goals proved to be more than enough for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team. The fifth-ranked Jaguars scored twice in the first 15 minutes and never allowed a shot on goal in a 2-0 victory over No. 14 Iowa City West in a non-conference game on Friday at Centennial. "I thought tonight was a show of team strength," said Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good team win’: Jaguars shut down Iowa City West for 2-0 victory

Resilient Jaguars outlast Dowling Catholic girls to win another shootout

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For the second time in five days, the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team was forced to go to a shootout. And once again, the Jaguars prevailed. Seventh-ranked Centennial got a game-ending save from goalkeeper Rylee Litchfield and posted a 2-1 victory at No. 9 Dowling Catholic on Tuesday. The Jaguars improved to 2-0 in the CIML Conference and 4-1 … [Read more...] about Resilient Jaguars outlast Dowling Catholic girls to win another shootout

Jaguars top Nebraska foe as ‘incredibly gutsy’ Lawrence boots winning PK

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Gabby Lawrence was an unlikely hero Friday night for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team. The senior midfielder scored the winning penalty kick to end a marathon shootout as the seventh-ranked Jaguars defeated visiting Omaha (Neb.) Skutt Catholic, 2-1, in a non-conference game. It took 10 kicks from both teams before Lawrence found the net to give … [Read more...] about Jaguars top Nebraska foe as ‘incredibly gutsy’ Lawrence boots winning PK

Fearless Jaguars score twice on corner kicks, top Urbandale in CIML opener

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Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer coach Chris Allen likes the fact that his players are fearless. That mentality paid off in a big way on Tuesday. The seventh-ranked Jaguars scored both of their goals off corner kicks and defeated No. 14 Urbandale, 2-0, in a CIML Conference opener at Centennial. "I think it speaks well of the girls right now," said … [Read more...] about Fearless Jaguars score twice on corner kicks, top Urbandale in CIML opener

Centennial girls fall to Russmann, No. 6 Pleasant Valley in double OT, 3-2

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A win over Pleasant Valley would have provided a huge boost for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team. Even a 3-2 loss in double overtime showed the seventh-ranked Jaguars that they can play with one of the state's top squads. "I think we can definitely take some positives away from this," said Centennial junior Ava Martin, who scored both of her … [Read more...] about Centennial girls fall to Russmann, No. 6 Pleasant Valley in double OT, 3-2