The game of soccer doesn't always reward the better team. It's a cruel reality that was endured by the Ankeny girls' squad on Thursday afternoon at Cownie Park. Despite dominating most of the contest, the third-ranked Hawkettes dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 7 Bettendorf in the Class 3A semifinals of the state tournament. The Bulldogs (17-3) advanced to … [Read more...] about ‘We had so many chances’: Hawkettes fall to No. 7 Bettendorf in Class 3A semifinals
Simon Brown
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 261
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the girls' Class 3A state soccer tournament with Ankeny coach Simon Brown and senior forward Emma Gott, who scored two goals in the Hawkettes' 3-0 victory over Waukee in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 261
‘Our defense played amazing’: Hawkettes shut down Waukee, advance to semis
Two of the state's top defensive teams collided in the Class 3A quarterfinals of the girls' state soccer tournament on Tuesday at Cownie Park. Only one of them kept a clean sheet. Third-ranked Ankeny got a pair of goals from Emma Gott and posted a 3-0 victory over No. 6 Waukee. The Warriors, who also dropped a 1-0 decision to Ankeny on April 5, … [Read more...] about ‘Our defense played amazing’: Hawkettes shut down Waukee, advance to semis
Hawkettes finally break through against Dowling’s defense, advance to state
It wasn't easy, but the Ankeny girls' soccer team is headed back to the state tournament. Emma Gott and Sydney Van Houweling each scored a goal as the third-ranked Hawkettes defeated visiting Dowling Catholic, 2-0, in a Class 3A regional final on Thursday at Northview. "This will be my fourth time going to state, but for some reason it feels … [Read more...] about Hawkettes finally break through against Dowling’s defense, advance to state
Hawkettes wait out storms, then roll to victory over Ames in regional semifinal
Ankeny High School Activities Director Mike Bakker waited out Tuesday's severe storms, much to the delight of Ankeny girls' soccer coach Simon Brown. While most of the Class 3A regional games were postponed due to the weather, the third-ranked Hawkettes were able to complete their semifinal contest against visiting Ames after delaying the start for 30 … [Read more...] about Hawkettes wait out storms, then roll to victory over Ames in regional semifinal
‘It’s our Achilles’ heel’: Hawkettes lose another PK shootout, share CIML crown
The Ankeny girls' soccer team ran out of gas. It resulted in another shootout loss. The second-ranked Hawkettes closed out the regular season on Friday with a 2-1 loss at No. 4 Valley. The Tigers' win, coupled with No. 1 Waukee Northwest's 4-2 victory at No. 7 Ankeny Centennial, allowed the Wolves to tie Ankeny for the CIML Conference title. "The … [Read more...] about ‘It’s our Achilles’ heel’: Hawkettes lose another PK shootout, share CIML crown
Ankeny girls top Urbandale, clinch at least share of CIML Conference crown
The Ankeny girls' soccer players aren't satisfied with a share of the CIML Conference championship. The Hawkettes want to capture the outright crown. That's why there wasn't much of a celebration on Tuesday after third-ranked Ankeny posted a 2-0 victory at No. 12 Urbandale to clinch at least a tie for the title. The Hawkettes may need to win at No. 2 … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls top Urbandale, clinch at least share of CIML Conference crown
Hawkettes defeat previously unbeaten North Polk behind Macke, Gott, Dietz
The Ankeny girls' soccer players didn't need the wind at their backs on Monday night. The third-ranked Hawkettes scored three goals in the first half against the wind and went on to post a 4-0 victory in a non-conference game against visiting North Polk, the No. 2 squad in Class 2A. "It kind of worked in our favor," said Ankeny coach Simon Brown. "We … [Read more...] about Hawkettes defeat previously unbeaten North Polk behind Macke, Gott, Dietz
‘It feels awesome’: No. 3 Ankeny girls end scoring drought, winless streak vs. Jags
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
Doubleday Insurance Coach of the Month: Simon Brown, Ankeny girls’ soccer
The Hawkettes post a 1-0 victory over Ankeny Centennial to defeat their crosstown rival for the first time since 2015. … [Read more...] about Doubleday Insurance Coach of the Month: Simon Brown, Ankeny girls’ soccer
Hawkettes fall to Kansas foe in shootout, then post 4-1 victory over Illinois squad
The Ankeny girls' soccer team split a pair of games in the Tournament of Champions at Bettendorf over the weekend. The third-ranked Hawkettes dropped a 2-1 decision to St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.) in a shootout on Friday afternoon. The game was delayed by rain for about four hours. "It was a bit of a nightmare," said Ankeny coach Simon Brown. "We were … [Read more...] about Hawkettes fall to Kansas foe in shootout, then post 4-1 victory over Illinois squad
‘It was a massive win’: Ankeny girls dominate No. 1 Wolves in 2-0 victory
It wasn't a fluke. The sixth-ranked Ankeny girls' soccer team posted a 2-0 victory at No. 1 Waukee Northwest on Tuesday, handing the Wolves their first loss of the season. The final score didn't reflect the Hawkettes' dominance. "It was a massive win," said Ankeny coach Simon Brown. "It sounds weird, but the performance was so much better than the … [Read more...] about ‘It was a massive win’: Ankeny girls dominate No. 1 Wolves in 2-0 victory
Hawkettes roll past Dowling for 5-0 win, remain unbeaten in CIML Conference
The struggling Dowling Catholic girls' soccer team is going to win a game one of these days. Sixth-ranked Ankeny didn't want to be the Maroons' first victim. The host Hawkettes rolled to a 5-0 victory on Friday to avenge last year's 1-0 loss to Dowling in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state tournament. "I think it's been coming--a result like … [Read more...] about Hawkettes roll past Dowling for 5-0 win, remain unbeaten in CIML Conference
‘We won’t let one bad game define us’: Hawkettes rebound to beat S.E. Polk
Ankeny girls' soccer coach Simon Brown did not want to postpone Tuesday's game against visiting Southeast Polk. "I know a lot of the schools in the area cancelled their games because of the weather, but it turned out to be a decent evening," said Brown. "It was a little breezy, but we were happy to get the game in and to get the win against a top-10 … [Read more...] about ‘We won’t let one bad game define us’: Hawkettes rebound to beat S.E. Polk
‘The girls got a wake-up call’: Hawkettes dominate but lose at Cedar Falls, 1-0
On paper, the Cedar Falls girls' soccer team didn't appear to be a dangerous side heading into Monday's non-conference matchup against visiting Ankeny. The Tigers had been outscored, 8-2, while losing three of their first four games. Fourth-ranked Ankeny, meanwhile, was riding a four-game winning streak, including a victory over defending Class 3A state … [Read more...] about ‘The girls got a wake-up call’: Hawkettes dominate but lose at Cedar Falls, 1-0
‘This young group is improving’: No. 4 Hawkettes roll to 7-1 win at C.R. Prairie
Emma Gott and Alli Macke each scored a pair of goals to lead the fourth-ranked Ankeny girls' soccer team to a 7-1 victory at Cedar Rapids Prairie in a non-conference game on Friday. The Hawkettes built a 4-0 halftime lead and cruised to the win, raising their overall record to 4-1. Prairie dropped to 2-3. "We were happy to get all 20 varsity girls … [Read more...] about ‘This young group is improving’: No. 4 Hawkettes roll to 7-1 win at C.R. Prairie
GOTT A WIN: Senior’s golden goal allows Hawkettes to beat defending champs
Ankeny girls' soccer coach Simon Brown isn't a big fan of shootouts to decide Iowa high school games during the regular season. His distaste for them only grew after the Hawkettes lost to Dallas Center-Grimes in a marathon shootout in their season opener on March 29. On Tuesday, fifth-ranked Ankeny appeared to be headed to another shootout against … [Read more...] about GOTT A WIN: Senior’s golden goal allows Hawkettes to beat defending champs
Macke scores on free kick to give Ankeny girls 1-0 victory at No. 3 Waukee
A matchup between two of the state's top five girls' soccer teams in Class 3A was decided by a lone goal. Alli Macke scored on a free kick in the second half and fifth-ranked Ankeny went on to post a 1-0 victory at No. 3 Waukee in the CIML Conference opener for both squads on Friday. "The ball went off the bar, and the linesman called the goal," said … [Read more...] about Macke scores on free kick to give Ankeny girls 1-0 victory at No. 3 Waukee
Hawkettes drop marathon shootout to Dallas Center-Grimes, then rout Ames
Emma Gott and the Ankeny girls' soccer team didn't dwell on Friday's loss to Dallas Center-Grimes. The Hawkettes didn't have time to do so. Gott recorded a hat trick and fourth-ranked Ankeny evened its record at 1-1 with a 4-0 victory over visiting Ames in the Crosstown Invitational on Saturday. "Our bodies were tired, but we came out wanting to … [Read more...] about Hawkettes drop marathon shootout to Dallas Center-Grimes, then rout Ames
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 253
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm previews the girls' soccer season with coaches Simon Brown of Ankeny and Chris Allen of Ankeny Centennial. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 253