Lincoln holds No. 13 Ames scoreless for 65 minutes before falling 2-0

Des Moines Lincoln stayed level with Class 3A No. 13 Ames for more than an hour Tuessday night before the Little Cyclones broke through late for a 2-0 win at Ames. The decisive stretch came in the final 15 minutes, when Ames turned sustained pressure into the only two goals of the match after Lincoln had defended firmly for the first 65 minutes.

For much of the night, the Rails matched the ranked opponent with an organized defensive effort. Goalkeeper Katie Strong was solid in goal and helped limit quality chances, while Lincoln's midfielders and back line stayed compact and disrupted Ames' attack. That shape allowed the Rails to keep the match scoreless deep into the second half and gave them a chance to stay within reach against one of the state's top teams.

Senior Samantha Ortiz-Rivera also stood out for Lincoln. She continuously put pressure on Ames defense and helped set the tone with her work rate throughout the match. Lincoln's effort across the field showed in the way the team continued to compete for loose balls, recover defensively and hold its structure even as Ames increased the pressure late.

Although the Rails did not find a goal, the match offered another sign of progress for the group. Lincoln hung tough against a ranked opponent and turned in what the team described as a great collective effort from all the girls. The defensive discipline from the midfield and back line was a major part of that showing, especially against an Ames side that had to wait until late to separate.

Coach Tyger Nieters said the Rails are clicking as a unit and appear ready to turn the corner. Even in a 2-0 result, Lincoln left Ames with evidence of that growth after keeping the Little Cyclones off the board for 65 minutes and forcing the home side to earn both goals late.

The Rails move to 2-4-1 on the season and return to action Friday as they travel to Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson.