Crank, Lowenberg scored twice as Hawks win

DONNELLSON - Central Lee moved to .500 on the year with a 7-3 win over cross-county rival Keokuk Friday night behind the two-goal effort of Landan Lowenberg and Landon Crank.
The Hawks scored first and last in the affair with Ayden Kent getting the opening goal 13 minutes into the first half unassisted.
Keokuk would answer in their next possession to tie things up before Lowenberg got his first goal assisted by Zach Estrada at the 20:44 mark. Keokuk would again find the answer at 17:34 to tie things up again at 2-all, which is how things would stay until the break.
Central Lee would make some adjustments at the half and rip off five goals including three in a row. Estrada would score first off an assist from Kent. Crank would score his first goal of the match from his midfielder spot unassisted and then Nathan Newberry would score on a breakaway unassisted to give the Hawks a comfortable 5-2 lead.
Keokuk would get its only goal of the half at 16:02 but then Central Lee would put two more on when Lowenberg got his second goal off a pass from Newberry. Landon Crank would then smash one in with just :27 left in the match to ice the win.
Kent had two assists in the win, while Newberry and Estrada each had one. Hunter Gregory had five saves in the net for the Hawks.
The Hawks are 4-4 on the year and travel to Danville tonight to take on Mediapolis in the opening round of the SEI Superconference tournament. Central Lee is 3-4 in the conference and are seeded 6^th in the tourney. The winner of that match will play the winner of No. 2 Danville/New London vs No. 7 Columbus at 7 p.m. at Wayland. The Finals will be played at WACO at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Chiefs fall to 0-10 (0-7 Southeast Conference) with the loss.
The Hawks open post-season play in Class 1A Substate 6 action against WACO at Wayland starting at 5 p.m. Monday, May 13. The winner will play West Branch likely at West Branch as they are seeded No. 1 in the bracket, however those determinations will be made following first round action Monday night.
Crank leads the Hawks in goals with seven on the year followed by Kent, Dante Merschman, and Lowenberg all with four each. Kent and Lowenberg each have a team-high four assists on the season. Gregory has 37 saves on the season.