PKs lead to Hawks loss

DONNELLSON — Justin Schau didn’t spend much time talking with his Central Lee boys soccer team after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to Hillcrest Academy.
The frustration didn’t need to be spoken.
“This was a game that would get us to second place in the conference, and that should drive a team enough,” Schau said. “I don’t know. I’m at a loss for words. This was very frustrating.”
Central Lee (9-4) finished Southeast Iowa Super Conference play at 5-3 and in third place, one game behind the Ravens (6-7, 6-2).
Two second-half penalty kicks proved costly for the Hawks — the first one Schau thought was the right call and the second one he didn’t.
“Know your situation,” Schau said of the first penalty kick that came 84 seconds into the second half that gave Hillcrest Academy a 3-1 lead. “A slide tackle from behind in the box? We’re better than that.”
Lincoln Miller knocked in the PK, but Central Lee seemed to get the momentum back less than three minutes later, when Mason Sanders scored his second goal of the night.

The Hawks kept pressuring the Ravens, and nearly tied the game less than a minute after Sanders’ goal. Colton Taft’s shot hit off the hand of Hillcrest Academy goalkeeper Garrett Bontrager, then hit the left post, caroming out of play. Bontrager then made a save on a header off the corner kick.
The second penalty kick for the Ravens came with 28:11 to play on another foul in the box, with Miller scoring to provide what would be the final margin.
“Now the second PK, that one wasn’t on us,” Schau said. “They kicked our feet out from under us, and we fell back into them, and got called for it. I voiced my opinion on that one, because that one killed our momentum, because we had the momentum at that point.”
Schau was unhappy at how the Ravens were able to continue attacking the Hawks’ defense.
“They beat us to every ball,” he said. “It seemed like we didn’t have the drive tonight, even though they vocally told me that they wanted this game, and we came out flat again. I don’t know how we change that.”
Hillcrest Academy took a 2-0 lead in the first 15 ½ minutes of the match. Jaxson Brokaw opened the scoring eight minutes in, then Charles Hughes scored to put the Ravens in command.
Sanders, though, scored with 11:43 to play in the half, and the Ravens led 2-1 at halftime.
Central Lee closes the regular season with Thursday’s match at Williamsburg.