#9 Lincoln get big 2-1 home win against Ames
| 1H | 2H | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DES | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| AME | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Des Moines Lincoln broke through in a big way Tuesday night, beating Ames 2-1 in a conference match at Lincoln High School and snapping a five-year winless drought against the Little Cyclones. The decisive moment came midway through the second half, when junior Xavier Keomany created a chance that sophomore reserve Eh Soe finished for his first goal of the season, pushing the Rails in front 2-0.
Lincoln set the tone almost immediately. The Rails controlled possession from the opening minutes and struck within the first five minutes when Arturo Zamora delivered a beautiful pass that found Brandon Hernandez-Contreras on the right foot for the opening goal. The finish gave Lincoln a 1-0 lead and added to a strong season for the senior, who now has a team-best seven goals.
From there, the Rails dictated the pace and kept Ames under pressure. Keomany continued to be a key playmaker, and his second-half assist added to an impressive season total of six. His setup to Soe became the match's biggest sequence, not only because it doubled the advantage, but because it rewarded a sophomore who made the most of his first varsity minutes of the year.
Soe's finish gave Lincoln breathing room, and the defense made sure that cushion mattered. The Rails' back line turned in a tough, organized performance that helped limit Ames for most of the night and protected the lead even after the Little Cyclones got one back. Lincoln's control of the ball and commitment defensively were central to the result.
It added up to one of the season's most satisfying wins for the Rails, who paired sharp attacking moments with steady defending in front of the home crowd at 2600 Lincoln turf got standout contributions from Hernandez-Contreras, Keomany, Zamora and Soe, and the final whistle marked more than just another conference victory, it was a breakthrough result against a program that had caused problems for years.
The #9 Rails improve to 5-1-2 and return to action Thursday night when they travel to #5 Norwalk.
