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AMES — West Des Moines Valley made the most of a golden opportunity during its Class 3A girls state soccer semifinal game versus Ankeny Centennial Class 3A June 12 at the Lied Recreation Fields.
The Tigers scored off a corner kick at the 28-minute, 47-second mark of the game, when Olivia Rotich put one into the net. That score held up to send them into the 3A championship game with a 1-0 victory over the Jaguars.
"We went into this game knowing that it was going to be hard," said Valley keeper Reagan Gardner. "It's earned, it's not given,"
With a little over 11 minutes remaining in the first half, Valley was awarded a corner kick. Saylor Horsley delivered the corner, and it landed perfectly in front of the goal to give her teammates a great opportunity to score.
There was a big cluster of players from both teams at the net. In a fight for the ball, Valley managed to punch it into the net.
Rotich was credited with the goal.
"It was just a lot of who wanted it more," said Rotich. "Just a lot of heart in that goal, and the entire game was just a lot of heart."
It was a rough setback for a Centennial team that had controlled possession for most of the game.
The Jaguars just missed out on a score one minute prior to Rotich's goal when Kayle Pezzetti had a 20-yard shot go off the top cross bar. The Jaguars also had a shot go just wide of the goal from the right side in the final minute of the half.
In the second half, Centennial got off four corner kicks in the first 20 minutes. Valley keeper Reagan Gardner had to make a diving stop on a nice shot from the Jaguars' Rebecca Flick 12 minutes into the second half and Centennial kept up the pressure for most of the half.
"That's the maddening game of soccer," said Centennial coach Chris Allen. "You can have the ball, you can have the chances, but if you face a goalkeeper that's on top of her game that day, that's going to make it hard. Reagan had a great game for them and the things that would've went in just didn't today."
Valley withstood Centennial's charge thanks to an excellent defensive back four and the play of Gardner at keeper.
"Very busy back there, me and the defense," Gardner said. "We worked really hard to keep out of it and we were successful. I want to come to the game and be perfect for my team. We worked as a team — it's not just me. Together we did that."
Valley will take a 17-2-1 record into the 3A championship game against defending champion and top seed Waukee Northwest (13-0-3), a 1-0 winner over Bettendorf in the other 3A semifinal.
Centennial finished its outstanding season at 16-3-1.
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: Valley edges Centennial in 3A girls state soccer semifinal, 1-0
Continue reading...
The Tigers scored off a corner kick at the 28-minute, 47-second mark of the game, when Olivia Rotich put one into the net. That score held up to send them into the 3A championship game with a 1-0 victory over the Jaguars.
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"We went into this game knowing that it was going to be hard," said Valley keeper Reagan Gardner. "It's earned, it's not given,"
With a little over 11 minutes remaining in the first half, Valley was awarded a corner kick. Saylor Horsley delivered the corner, and it landed perfectly in front of the goal to give her teammates a great opportunity to score.
There was a big cluster of players from both teams at the net. In a fight for the ball, Valley managed to punch it into the net.
Rotich was credited with the goal.
"It was just a lot of who wanted it more," said Rotich. "Just a lot of heart in that goal, and the entire game was just a lot of heart."
It was a rough setback for a Centennial team that had controlled possession for most of the game.
The Jaguars just missed out on a score one minute prior to Rotich's goal when Kayle Pezzetti had a 20-yard shot go off the top cross bar. The Jaguars also had a shot go just wide of the goal from the right side in the final minute of the half.
In the second half, Centennial got off four corner kicks in the first 20 minutes. Valley keeper Reagan Gardner had to make a diving stop on a nice shot from the Jaguars' Rebecca Flick 12 minutes into the second half and Centennial kept up the pressure for most of the half.
You must be registered for see images attach
"That's the maddening game of soccer," said Centennial coach Chris Allen. "You can have the ball, you can have the chances, but if you face a goalkeeper that's on top of her game that day, that's going to make it hard. Reagan had a great game for them and the things that would've went in just didn't today."
Valley withstood Centennial's charge thanks to an excellent defensive back four and the play of Gardner at keeper.
"Very busy back there, me and the defense," Gardner said. "We worked really hard to keep out of it and we were successful. I want to come to the game and be perfect for my team. We worked as a team — it's not just me. Together we did that."
Valley will take a 17-2-1 record into the 3A championship game against defending champion and top seed Waukee Northwest (13-0-3), a 1-0 winner over Bettendorf in the other 3A semifinal.
You must be registered for see images attach
Centennial finished its outstanding season at 16-3-1.
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: Valley edges Centennial in 3A girls state soccer semifinal, 1-0
Continue reading...
