Super shutout

GLENWOOD — “This is big time.”

That was the assessment by a smiling Creston goalkeeper Alex Nielsen, moments after the Panthers gained their first-ever postseason victory over the host Glenwood Rams Thursday night in a Class 2A substate semifinal match.

Ben Irr’s penalty kick goal was the only scoring in the defensive-oriented match. The victory avenged a 2-0 loss to Glenwood in the regular season and disappointments in substate play the past two seasons on the same field.

The win also erased some of the frustration of an 8-7 regular season when there were much higher hopes for this senior-oriented squad. Glenwood, ranked 14th in the state, saw its final record slip to 10-7.

The Panthers are also 10-7 now heading into a noon match Saturday at Adel against eighth-ranked ADM, which improved to 15-4 with a 5-2 victory Thursday over Atlantic.

“I told the boys before we played, it’s a new season, we’re 1-0, and we’re going to get them,” said Panther coach Jesus Rodriguez. “As soon as the game started tonight, BANG, we were on. I could see it.”

Turnaround

Senior co-captain Conner Pals said players were reminded that Creston held a 1-0 halftime lead last year in the same matchup, and ended up losing 2-1 as the Rams went on to gain a state tournament berth.

“We said this is exactly like last year, except they came out harder and faster than us in the second half last year,” Pals said. “We knew we just had to respond this year. We came out flying. That sent a message that we were not tired, and we were not going to quit.”

Senior midfielder McClain Haines, who also spells Pals at forward, said the team is looking forward in its quest of the school’s first state tournament berth.

“We had some mess-ups this season, but when we started the playoffs the coaches told us it’s a new season,” Haines said. “None of the season matters, because now is when you step up. We had some people step up tonight. We had guys out, and guys like Luke Stilwell and Alex Tamerius came in those spots and did their jobs.”

The team’s two starting center backs on defense — Chase Shiltz and Tayler Pettit — were not in the lineup Thursday. Shiltz was sidelined by a severe ankle sprain in Tuesday’s 11-0 victory over Carroll, and Pettit became ill with flu-like symptoms Wednesday and was only available for a few minutes at a time Thursday.

“Without those two guys, that just shows the heart this team has,” Pals said.

Subs step up

Rodriguez moved two veteran seniors into the critical defensive spots, shifting Kaleb Cook from a wide position to the middle, and moving Kyle Jennett back from a defensive midfield spot. Stilwell and Tamerius then filled their previous positions, while the midfield defense also rotated in senior Jake Miller.

“We’re confident in playing Kyle anywhere I put him,” Rodriguez said. “We also adjusted Cook into the center back. We have a lot of guys capable of great things and that showed tonight. Alex (Nielsen) just has that confidence back there, too. He’s a game changer for every sport that he plays.”

Nielsen had two sliding blocks of Glenwood possessions far outside the net in the first half, timing his attack perfectly in preventing an open shot attempt. He said the timing of the break comes with experience.

"Basically when I have a one-on-one, I have to make the decision to come out and slide for the ball or just sit back. I have to make a decision right now. Our guys knew what they had to do. Everybody stepped up and did their job."

Rodriguez credited assistant coach Lucian Diaconu, a former goalkeeper, for working with NIelsen daily to improve his decision making against opponents’ attacks.

“Alex would not be the goalie he is today without coach D,” Rodriguez said.

The only score of the match came when freshman Evan Jacobson was fouled in the box at the 11:12 mark of the first half, just after Pals had returned after receiving a yellow card at 22:02.

“Ben (Irr) passed it to me in the middle and Evan Jacobson was on the outside,” Pals said. “I passed it to him and they took him out from behind. Me and Ben have missed PKs this year, and we’ve been working on them in practice. He just placed it perfect. That’s all you have to do.”

Irr kicked it low to the left corner of the net.

“Low and to the side is the hardest to get it,” Irr said. “This was big. Last year we were in the same exact situation at half. This year we just gutted it out. Our guys kept clearing the ball and possessing it better.”

The Panthers almost had a second goal in the first half, but Jacobson’s hard angled shot was handled by Ram goalkeeper Connor Weis.

Glenwood finished with a 17-15 advantage in shots and 12 on goal compared to Creston’s six, but could not penetrate Nielsen and the Panther defense for a score.

“It’s unfortunate it was decided on a PK because it was a well-played game by two good teams,” Glenwood coach Shane Keeling said. “But you can’t control those things. We had our opportunities, no doubt. More than anything, we didn’t possess to the feet like we usually do. We played into pressure more than we usually do instead of playing out of it. But give Creston credit. They play physical and they have a lot of athletic kids. We knew that.”

Rodriguez, playing out the end of his fourth and final season before returning to his home state of Texas, is excited to lead his team into a match that decides a state tournament berth.

“I wanted this for the boys because they work so hard the whole season,” Rodriguez said. “I guarantee we’re going to be hungry in Adel.”

Repeating history?

The site of Saturday’s match is just 16 miles from another memorable sports moment of the 2014-15 athletic year in Creston. Many of the same players were part of Creston’s first football team to qualify for the state semifinals in the UNI-Dome with an overtime playoff victory at Dallas Center-Grimes.

Just like in that instance, Creston is the underdog Saturday against a state-ranked opponent from Dallas County.

“There’s no pressure on the underdog,” Haines said. “We just need to go in and play our game.”

Creston 1, Glenwood 0

Creston (1) — Ben Irr PK, 11:12 first half. Shots (on goal) — 15 (6 on goal). Individual shots (on goal)— McClain Haines 4 (2), Conner Pals 4 (2), Ben Irr 4 (1), Evan Jacobson 2 (1), Alex Tamerius 1. Keeper saves — Alex Nielsen 4. Cards — Pals (Y), Kyle Jennett (Y).

Glenwood (0) — Shots (on goal) — 17 (12). Saves — Connor Weis 10. Cards — Joshua Radcliff (Y).