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AMES − Waukee Northwest's unbeaten 2026 season will continue for one more day.
In a Class 3A semifinal battle between the No. 1 seed Wolves and No. 5 Bettendorf, Waukee Northwest's quest to repeat as state champions continued with a 1-0 win on June 12. Natalie Elliott's first-half goal propelled the Wolves to victory thanks to a Cora Sundet assist.
It wasn't until the 39th minute that the scoreless tie was broken. While there had been dangerous chances for each side, it was the Wolves who found the back of the net late in the first half to gain the advantage. Sundet made a nice lead pass to Elliott at the top of the box, as Elliott struck a shot past the goalkeeper for the 1-0 lead headed into halftime.
"Their lines were really up, I just had a lot of space in the back," Elliott said. "I just took my opportunity and it worked."
The Wolves had to be careful in the second half, since Bettendorf was fresh off a stunning rally to defeat Waukee in the state quarterfinals. Still, the Waukee Northwest offense continued to find rhythm in attack and stay strong in defense, keeping high-danger chances to a minimum and holding on for a 1-0 victory.
While Elliott's goal was the difference-maker, the Wolves' defense and team effort across the board earned praise from head coach Tony Gabriel after the win.
"The defensive effort was great," Gabriel said. "We have a solid group of defenders here in the back line., goalkeeping by (Grace) Thomason. I mean, this is her 13th shutout this season. That's ridiculous."
As a result, Northwest advances to face West Des Moines Valley in the state title game on Saturday, June 13. Valley took care of business against Ankeny Centennial in the other semifinal to set up the matchup. When the Wolves and Tigers faced off in the regular season, Waukee Northwest won 2-1 on April 21.
The team will only have a few hours to celebrate before turning their attention to the final game of the year. Still, the Wolves know how to handle this situation after claiming the state title last year. If their strong play continues, a repeat title may be the next accomplishment.
"We got to take care of ourselves right now," Gabriel said. " The recovery is the biggest piece."
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Waukee Northwest tops Bettendorf in Iowa girls soccer state tournament
Continue reading...
In a Class 3A semifinal battle between the No. 1 seed Wolves and No. 5 Bettendorf, Waukee Northwest's quest to repeat as state champions continued with a 1-0 win on June 12. Natalie Elliott's first-half goal propelled the Wolves to victory thanks to a Cora Sundet assist.
It wasn't until the 39th minute that the scoreless tie was broken. While there had been dangerous chances for each side, it was the Wolves who found the back of the net late in the first half to gain the advantage. Sundet made a nice lead pass to Elliott at the top of the box, as Elliott struck a shot past the goalkeeper for the 1-0 lead headed into halftime.
"Their lines were really up, I just had a lot of space in the back," Elliott said. "I just took my opportunity and it worked."
The Wolves had to be careful in the second half, since Bettendorf was fresh off a stunning rally to defeat Waukee in the state quarterfinals. Still, the Waukee Northwest offense continued to find rhythm in attack and stay strong in defense, keeping high-danger chances to a minimum and holding on for a 1-0 victory.
While Elliott's goal was the difference-maker, the Wolves' defense and team effort across the board earned praise from head coach Tony Gabriel after the win.
"The defensive effort was great," Gabriel said. "We have a solid group of defenders here in the back line., goalkeeping by (Grace) Thomason. I mean, this is her 13th shutout this season. That's ridiculous."
As a result, Northwest advances to face West Des Moines Valley in the state title game on Saturday, June 13. Valley took care of business against Ankeny Centennial in the other semifinal to set up the matchup. When the Wolves and Tigers faced off in the regular season, Waukee Northwest won 2-1 on April 21.
The team will only have a few hours to celebrate before turning their attention to the final game of the year. Still, the Wolves know how to handle this situation after claiming the state title last year. If their strong play continues, a repeat title may be the next accomplishment.
"We got to take care of ourselves right now," Gabriel said. " The recovery is the biggest piece."
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Waukee Northwest tops Bettendorf in Iowa girls soccer state tournament
Continue reading...
