ANKENY — The risk might not have been worth the potential reward.

The Marshalltown girls’ soccer team’s defensive strategy didn’t stand up to the skill and adaptability of Class 3A No. 6 Ankeny, and the host Hawkettes handled the Bobcats an 11-1, mercy-rule elimination in Tuesday’s Region 6 semifinal match at Ankeny High School.

Junior midfielder Isabel Squires scored five goals and added an assist as Ankeny advanced to Thursday’s regional final at home against No. 11 Cedar Rapids Kennedy after the Cougars eliminated Mason City 3-0.

Marshalltown’s season ended at 9-8-1 — its third-straight campaign above .500 — and with a lot of hope for the future in spite of Tuesday’s decisive setback.

“It’ll take some time to set in to really think about what we could have done or what we did well or a little bit of both,” said Marshalltown first-year head coach Kameron Nehring. “We’re a young team, so I think that’s really supportive that we can build upon for years to come.

“I don’t think this game really defines this season.”

Tuesday’s loss was Marshalltown’s most lopsided defeat of the year and one of only five matches in which the Bobcats were held to one goal or fewer.

It was also Ankeny’s first time scoring more than five goals in a match this spring, but it sure didn’t look like it.

The Hawkettes (10-5-1) attacked at will against Marshalltown’s high defensive line that on this night just left too much room between it and Bobcat junior goalkeeper Sophia Valdez Chavez. Ankeny’s fast forwards carved up the Bobcats in spite of many an offsides call, cashing in whenever the Hawkettes weren’t whistled for their ultra-aggressiveness and speed up front.

“We had a great practice yesterday, so it was kind of disappointing in a way to come out here and see us do the complete opposite,” said Nehring. “It’s almost like, and I hate to say this, but they wanted to be done — that was their mindset literally from the locker room all the way out here to warm-ups.”

Ankeny took a moment to adjust to Marshalltown’s defensive game plan, getting whistled for three offsides calls before finally breaking through with the ball. Ava Paoli got the scoring started in the fourth minute of the match, and the Hawkettes never really stopped after that.

Paoli scored three goals, Abby Steinkamp had two goals and three assists, while Abby Stetich and Avery Taylor each added a goal in the Ankeny victory.

Marshalltown’s lone tally came on its only shot on goal through the match, as sophomore forward Claire Bonzer found a bouncing pass from senior Brianna Gomez at her feet with a defender on her hip. Bonzer’s left foot found the back of the net just the same, cutting into Ankeny’s insurmountable 6-0 lead with 19:06 remaining in the first half.

Bonzer finished her school-record season with 25 goals, which ranks fourth in 3A ahead of the regional finals.

Squires scored her fourth goal of the first half with 2:56 left to get the Hawkettes to a 9-1 lead, and Ankeny finished off the Bobcats with goals by Paoli and Squires in the first nine minutes of the second half.

Ankeny outshot the Bobcats 31-1, with Valdez Chavez securing 12 saves in net for MHS. Put on an island by the high defensive line and Ankeny’s aggressive attack, Valdez Chavez made an admirable stand. The Hawkettes were called for 13 offsides calls as well.

The loss was the last of the season for seniors Lilyia Christen, Jorja Janssen, Claire Wilke, Maelee Corona, Gomez and managers Kinsley Bowie and Millie Heitmann.

“Everyone gave their all,” Nehring said of her seniors. “The season was just exciting and it’s been great.”

As for next year?

“Confident,” Nehring said. “We are a very confident group being able to take what we have and what we know and build and just keep building. We’re doing stuff year-round, like college camps, anything that we can to just get more touches, more experience so we’re more ready for the season.”