Alexis Winkey is on a tear. Here's how the Ames forward lights up the scoreboard in girls soccer.

Alexis Winkey is starting to figure things out at forward for the Ames girls soccer team.

And she is putting the rest of the Iowa Alliance Conference on notice.

Over the last four games, Winkey has scored seven goals. Ames has gone 3-1 during that stretch with shutout victories over Des Moines Roosevelt, Marshalltown and Des Moines Hoover.

Winkey, a junior, has more goals over those four games than she had for the entire 2022 season (five).

“She’s come really far,” said Ames coach Bobby Myers. “She has so much more composure on the ball. She’s able to get a lot better chances. She’s reading defenses and being physical enough to hold people off with how strong she is.”

For the season, Winkey has racked up 18 goals and six assists in 13 games.

“I knew I needed to make more goals this year,” Winkey said. “But it’s a little bit shocking how many I’ve had.”

She is now complementing her excellent dribbling skills and speed with a better grasp of how to attack opposing defenses and goalies.

“I understand my position more,” Winkey said. “I understand where we play in the 3-5-2 (formation) and I’m helping the other forward figure that out.”

Sophomore Nadia Kobayashi and freshman Angelica Attinger have split time at the other forward spot. They have combined for seven goals and junior Emma Evans has eight playing both forward and midfielder.

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In addition to her smarts and improved instincts on the field, Winkey has a tremendous motor and is stronger than most defenders she goes up against. Being a state placewinner in girls wrestling has helped Winkey build her endurance and strength to make her a match-up problem for every defense Ames goes up against.

She is starting to take full advantage of her talents.

“It’s fun to be the finisher,” Winkey said. “I enjoy it.”

Her teammates have enjoyed seeing her have so much success.

“She’s been working really hard,” said Ames senior defender/midfielder Eliza Loecke. “She’s improved working with the outside midfielders and she’s bringing a lot of energy to our team.”

Winkey's production on offense has made life a lot easier for the Little Cyclone midfielders, defenders and keepers Tayea Popillion and Elizabeth Lehmkuhl.

"We know if we’re working as hard as we can in the back, then the job is going to get done up front,” Loecke said. “Nothing to worry about there.”

The other Ames forwards are in awe of what Winkey has accomplished thus far.

“I’m very impressed,” Evans said. “It’s amazing.”

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As physically talented as she is, the biggest attribute Winkey brings to the team is her leadership.

“To be the leader by example is the best thing about her," Myers said. "She just works her tail off. Nobody can slack off because you know she’s not going to.”

She enjoys playing the role of mentor to the younger players.

“We’re still trying to learn how to play together,” Winkey said. “We’re getting to know each other more and how (each other) plays. It’s been fun.”

Tuesday's victory over Hoover put Ames at 8-7 on the season. The Little Cyclones have already surpassed last year's win total of six, but they want more.

Ames still must prove itself against elite competition. The Little Cyclones have yet to beat a ranked team.

They will get a chance May 15 at 3A No. 13 Urbandale in their final game before regionals.

Winkey said it will not take much to get Ames over the hump.

“It’s just communication,” Winkey said. “We’ve got to talk a little more. We can read each other better than we could at the beginning, but we still have a little ways to go there.”

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Alexis Winkey is on a scoring roll for the Ames girls soccer team