IOWA FALLS – It wasn’t always pretty and it didn’t always bring out the softer side of head coach Craig Signorin, but the ninth-ranked (Class 2A) Webster City boys’ soccer team was able to keep its nearly season-long win streak intact here Friday night.

A lethargic first half forced Signorin to show off his cranky side, but a stronger second half allowed the Lynx to trip up Iowa Falls-Alden for the second time this season, 2-1.

“We played absolutely terrible in the first half and I was pretty blunt at halftime,” Signorin said. “I told them that not one person on the field in purple had even a good half and that needs to change. It’s great to be winning, but frustrating (Friday night) because it wasn’t our best and at this point in the season we need to be our best.”

It was the 14th consecutive win for WCHS, tying the school record held previously alone by the 2012 squad. Now 16-1 on the season, the Lynx are two wins away from catching the single-season wins record of 18 also held by the 2012 team. To get there, WCHS will have to beat Humboldt in its regular season finale on Friday and then knock off either Iowa Falls-Alden or CAL in a substate semifinal on May 25 in Webster City.

IF-A (9-7) got the Lynx attention early on with a goal in the third minute, as Logan Ward got open and was able to rifle a shot past goalkeeper Ashton High for the 1-0 lead.

“We made some changes … Jerry Torres wasn’t in the lineup, so we moved (defensive player) Connor (Foster) into the middle with Landon (Daniels) and it took us a little while to figure it out,” Signorin said. “But it was a really nice goal, a nice finish by them.”

WCHS spent the rest of the first half trying to play catch-up and finally got there in the 36th minute on Antonio Pinna’s 12th goal of the season courtesy of an Alex Bobadilla assist.

Daniels, the captain of the team, heeded his coach’s advice and took over, at least temporarily, to give WCHS the lead for good. He dribbled around several Cadet defenders and lashed a shot past goalkeeper Kolton Peterson to put the Lynx ahead to stay in the 61st minute.

“He’s too unselfish at times,” Signorin said of Daniels, who leads the team in goals with 14. “He’s our guy and when everyone starts playing attention to just him, that’s when he can pass the ball. But his goal was pretty nice.”

WCHS tightened up defensively after the early sting and limited IF-A to just five shots in all. The Lynx took 13 and held a 6-4 margin in shots on goal. High finished with three saves.