Central Iowa United soccer secures programs’ first wins

MAXWELL — Central Iowa United’s boys soccer team came into its match with PCM having been outscored 19-0 in the first three matches of its existence.

But head coach John Fuller could see improvements in the 3-0 loss to Van Meter last week.

The improvement continued against the Mustangs and once Central Iowa United scored its first goals of the season, things snowballed into a 5-2 home win.

“Getting our first win was great,” said CIU goalie Tanner Scroggins, who had 16 saves in 80 minutes in goal. “There was a change in attitude after the Newton tournament. Our hard work has paid off. We just need to keep the momentum going.”

Dane Beattie scored the program’s first goal in the 16th minute and Ephram Muntz made it 2-0 midway through the first half. The lead remained 2-0 at halftime.

PCM’s Tyler Kuecker did what he could to keep the Mustangs close. His goal in the 52nd minute trimmed PCM’s deficit to one, but Beattie struck again three minutes later with his second goal of the match to push the margin to 3-1.

Kuecker again made it a one-goal deficit when he scored in the 56th minute to make it 3-2. The goal was set up by a beautiful centering pass from Carson VandeLune.

“We had a few kids play well,” PCM coach Darrin Telfer said. “We just didn’t play well enough together. Give (Central Iowa United) credit. They played well.”

Central Iowa United (1-3) responded again after Kuecker’s second goal. Muntz made it 4-2 with a second goal in the 58th minute and then completed the hat trick when he finalized the scoring with 5:16 to play in the match.

“Things just snowballed today for us,” Scroggins said. “We hope to keep it going, maybe even produce an avalanche.”

A key point in the game came in the closing seconds of the first half when Scroggins stopped a penalty kick with his team up 2-0.

“We have been working on the fundamentals, trying to get better and just cleaning things up,” Fuller said. “Stopping penalty kicks is always big. That was a huge play.”

PCM (1-4) out-shot CIU 11-6 in the second half, but the Mustangs couldn’t avoid a second straight loss. The win snapped a three-match skid for CIU.

Muntz finished with three goals and an assist for CIU, while Beattie added a pair of goals and one assist.

Curtis Horras, a freshman from Colfax-Mingo, did not play in the Newton tournament when CIU was outscored 16-0. He impacted Thursday’s match in a big way, finishing with three assists.

“He’s an advanced player for sure,” Fuller said. “He’s handling himself really well so far.”

Telfer said his Mustangs have to communicate better on defense. And continue to grow every day.

“We need to work on our first touches,” Telfer said. “We also have to come ready to play. I don’t think we were ready to play. Our offense played well. The defense was hesitant.”

GIRLS

Central Iowa United 3, Indianola 2

MAXWELL — The Central Iowa United girls soccer team claimed its first win after rallying past Indianola on Friday night.

Indianola led 2-1 after 40 minutes, but CIU scored a pair of second-half goals during a 3-2 home win.

“This was a great game by all of our players,” CIU girls coach Sadie Jones said. “We possessed the ball very well and really connected passes well. At the half, we talked about executing when we are in the final third, and I believe it shows the girls took what we talked about and executed that perfectly.”

Elise Robertson had nine saves in goal for CIU (1-2), playing between the posts for all 80 minutes. She has 45 saves this season in three matches.

Brooke Christie’s corner kick bounced off an Indianola player and into the net for CIU’s first goal.

In the second half, Kenzi Wierson scored on a header and Grace Tollefson scored on a direct kick that also hit off an Indianola player.

“I was very pleased with the effort,” Jones said. “I am very happy with the team win and we are eager to get back at it on Tuesday against Webster City.”

Indianola (2-2) had a 15-11 advantage in shots and an 8-7 surplus on shots on goal. Aryss Forbes scored both of the Indians’ goals.