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AMES — The winning goal happened in a flash, but the process took all season to deliver North Polk its first girls state soccer championship.
The Comets capped an improbable run as the No. 7 seed by winning the Class 2A state championship game over North Scott, 1-0, at the Cyclone Sports Complex.
"We didn't really look at it as we came in seventh," said North Polk defender and 2A all-tournament captain Blythe Knight. "We looked at it as we made it to the state tournament, just like everyone else. It's an equal playing field going into games; it's just about who's going to grind and work hard. It feels amazing."
North Polk wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. The Comets scored just 6:38 into the game following a fantastic throw in by Amelia Growdon.
Growdon got the ball on the left sideline, reared back her arms and fired a long throw toward the North Scott goal. North Polk forward Addison Finn got a good leg on the ball and fired it toward the goal.
The ball was deflected by North Scott keeper Nora Barnett, and it came back to the Comets' Jordin Halverson. Halverson knocked the ball into the net for a 1-0 Comet led.
"I was just trying to get it in the net," said Halverson. "All credit to my teammates. They make me look good."
From then on, the North Polk defense and midfield took over.
North Polk controlled the ball for most of the first 30 minutes. But North Scott started to gain an advantage to close out the half.
Lancer star forward Reese Barnett got off three shots from around 20 yards in a row from the 32nd through 34th minute, but they were all a little wide of the mark. North Polk settled down shortly after to that to secure a one-goal lead going into halftime.
In the second half North Scott got off a long shot that North Polk keeper Madelyn Cory was able to go up just high enough to knock it away with her outstretched arms.
Reese Barnett kept pressure on North Polk's defense all game. But the Comets always did what they had to in order to keep her from putting one in the net.
Barnett got off a couple more good shots in the second half. But she could not get one through.
"We weren't having one person just guard her, the whole team had to work together to follow and track her," Knight said. "I think just staying hard there, not fouling, playing clean and just getting the ball out."
North Scott also got a beautiful 30-yard shot from Tanner Schild with nine minutes left in regulation that Cory was able to once again tap over the net.
The Lancers tried another late run in the final minute, but North Polk once again stood tall.
Cory was named Player of the Match for her outstanding efforts at keeper.
"She deserves player of the match," said North Scott coach Dion Ayers. "We made her work today. That's all we could do."
North Scott ended its season at 17-2-3. The Lancers scored a 3-0 win over Gilbert and an impressive 1-0 win over No. 1 seed Norwalk to reach the finals.
"This is a whole new level," Ayers said. "We hadn't been to a state title in 11 years, 12 years, something like that. Hopefully we'll be back again."
North Polk finished its first state championship season at 17-3-1. The Comets defeated No. 2 seed Waverly-Shell Rock in a 2-1 thriller, and they downed four-time defending champion Dallas Center-Grimes in the semifinals on a last-minute goal from Campbell Schulz to set up its June 13 state title win.
"We've been here before, and we've come short just a little bit," Knight said. "This year we were able to push through and make it to the end. It feels great."
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: North Polk tops North Scott to earn 2A girls state soccer championship
Continue reading...
The Comets capped an improbable run as the No. 7 seed by winning the Class 2A state championship game over North Scott, 1-0, at the Cyclone Sports Complex.
"We didn't really look at it as we came in seventh," said North Polk defender and 2A all-tournament captain Blythe Knight. "We looked at it as we made it to the state tournament, just like everyone else. It's an equal playing field going into games; it's just about who's going to grind and work hard. It feels amazing."
North Polk wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. The Comets scored just 6:38 into the game following a fantastic throw in by Amelia Growdon.
Growdon got the ball on the left sideline, reared back her arms and fired a long throw toward the North Scott goal. North Polk forward Addison Finn got a good leg on the ball and fired it toward the goal.
The ball was deflected by North Scott keeper Nora Barnett, and it came back to the Comets' Jordin Halverson. Halverson knocked the ball into the net for a 1-0 Comet led.
"I was just trying to get it in the net," said Halverson. "All credit to my teammates. They make me look good."
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From then on, the North Polk defense and midfield took over.
North Polk controlled the ball for most of the first 30 minutes. But North Scott started to gain an advantage to close out the half.
Lancer star forward Reese Barnett got off three shots from around 20 yards in a row from the 32nd through 34th minute, but they were all a little wide of the mark. North Polk settled down shortly after to that to secure a one-goal lead going into halftime.
In the second half North Scott got off a long shot that North Polk keeper Madelyn Cory was able to go up just high enough to knock it away with her outstretched arms.
Reese Barnett kept pressure on North Polk's defense all game. But the Comets always did what they had to in order to keep her from putting one in the net.
Barnett got off a couple more good shots in the second half. But she could not get one through.
"We weren't having one person just guard her, the whole team had to work together to follow and track her," Knight said. "I think just staying hard there, not fouling, playing clean and just getting the ball out."
North Scott also got a beautiful 30-yard shot from Tanner Schild with nine minutes left in regulation that Cory was able to once again tap over the net.
The Lancers tried another late run in the final minute, but North Polk once again stood tall.
Cory was named Player of the Match for her outstanding efforts at keeper.
"She deserves player of the match," said North Scott coach Dion Ayers. "We made her work today. That's all we could do."
You must be registered for see images attach
North Scott ended its season at 17-2-3. The Lancers scored a 3-0 win over Gilbert and an impressive 1-0 win over No. 1 seed Norwalk to reach the finals.
"This is a whole new level," Ayers said. "We hadn't been to a state title in 11 years, 12 years, something like that. Hopefully we'll be back again."
North Polk finished its first state championship season at 17-3-1. The Comets defeated No. 2 seed Waverly-Shell Rock in a 2-1 thriller, and they downed four-time defending champion Dallas Center-Grimes in the semifinals on a last-minute goal from Campbell Schulz to set up its June 13 state title win.
"We've been here before, and we've come short just a little bit," Knight said. "This year we were able to push through and make it to the end. It feels great."
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: North Polk tops North Scott to earn 2A girls state soccer championship
Continue reading...
