Ava Bell shines as Iowa City High girls’ soccer beats West for another ranked win

IOWA CITY — Nearly 15 minutes into what should — should — be the windiest game of the soccer season, Ava Bell figured it was time someone had a shot.

“I think I just tried to hit it as hard as I could and I was like, ‘oh my gosh, is it going to go in?’” Bell said. “It went in and I was so confused. Did that just happen?”

It happened. The Iowa City High center midfielder found some space on the City High turf and laced a shot from distance that sailed over the Iowa City West goalkeeper. First shot of the game, first goal, and the start of a 3-0 win over the 14th-ranked Trojans (2-2) for the Little Hawks (3-2) on the City High turf.

It was also Bell’s first goal of the season. She added her second a few minutes into the second half from much closer ranger, poking in a bouncing ball near the 6-yard box after a corner kick. In one game, the sophomore equaled her goals total from last season.

“I just felt like the game, intensity-wise, it’s our rival and I felt like this was my game to show that I was capable of scoring goals,” Bell said.

» Photo gallery: Iowa City West at Iowa City High girls’ soccer

It was City High’s first win over West since the 2019 regular season.

Last year, the Little Hawks were ranked ninth and gave up a late goal to fall 1-0. Memories of the feeling from that night were prevalent throughout an experienced team this week.

“I think walking into it both teams know that it’s not even the better team that wins, it’s always who wants it more,” said forward Claire Brown, who made it 2-0 when she got a touch on a tipped Morgan Turner cross with 5:36 left in the first half.

The Little Hawks, knowing they would be scouted well by a familiar opponent, switched up their lineup and positions in the first half. It worked.

“We were connecting passes, we were working off each other,” City High coach Corbin Scholz said. “Really, really positive out there and I think that helped us.”

City High could climb back in the IGHSAU rankings next week, with this win and a 2-1 overtime victory Tuesday over 2A No. 3 Cedar Rapids Xavier now on its resume.

“The seniors are always like, ‘we’re in this, we can get this, this is our year, this is our season,’” Bell said.

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