Ankeny beats West in 3A title game in shootout

MUSCATINE - Call them the queens of the shootout. Call them state champs.

"They're hard, tough players," said Ankeny Coach Chris Allen, after his team outlasted Iowa City West, 1-0, in a Class 3A state soccer tournament championship game Saturday that went to sudden-victory penalty kicks.

These hard, tough players also are clutch.

Top-ranked Ankeny (21-1) won its quarterfinal game over Cedar Rapids Washington, 1-0, in a shootout, too. That one went the normal five shooters deep.

This one wasn't decided until seventh-shooter Katherine Young stroked a ball past West goalkeeper Jayne Heinrich low and into the left side of the net. West defender Brenna Gray, who played a wonderful game against Ankeny's cadre of explosive forwards, had just shot wide right to set up Young's heroics.

"I was ready to put it in the net," Young said.

"Very intense. A great game," Gray said between sobs. "We played our hearts out."

No denying that. Ankeny had virtually all of the ball possession and offensive chances, but No. 6 West (18-3) did a great job of roap-a-dope, if you will. This was the Women of Troy's ninth extra-time game this season, by the way.

Ankeny's Amber Nieland hit the crossbar on a shot with eight minutes left in regulation. West's Erin Wilson had a direct kick from midfield that bounced once and over Ankeny keeper Nikkie Inskeep but off the crossbar with 1:25 to go.

Ironically, both teams' first shooters in the PK portion were unsuccessful as West's Nicole Rondeau was stopped by Inskeep and Ankeny's Alyssa Williamson shot wide. Everyone else converted successfully until Gray.

"I knew it would have to end eventually," Inskeep said. "I'm just glad it ended our way."

Gray was asked if it was tougher to take this loss than it would have been had Ankeny scored in regulation.

"A loss is a loss," she said. "It hurts either way."

Here is the Class 3A all-tournament team:

Katherine Young (Ankeny)

Nikkie Inskeep (Ankeny)

Meredith Young (Ankeny)

Maggie Riley (Ankeny)

Abby Zimmerman (Bettendorf)

Katie Moore (Bettendorf)

Nicole Rondeau (Iowa City West)

Brenna Gray (Iowa City West)

Lauren Waggoner (West Des Moines Valley)

Hannah Turner (West Des Moines Valley)

Captain - Alyssa Williamson (Ankeny)

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