3-0 loss completes tough weekend

ANCHORAGE — Colony found itself in a familiar spot on Saturday. The Knights were playing West Valley for fourth place in the state tournament. And just like last season, Colony was forced to settle for the sixth spot in the tourney.

West Valley posted a 3-0 win over Colony in the ASAA/First National Bank State Soccer Championships fourth-place game at Anchorage Football Stadium Saturday morning.

Even though most of the teams in the state hadn’t seen the Wolfpack, who played much of their schedule in the Interior, prior to the tourney, Colony head coach Lorie Miner said the Knights pretty much knew what to expect.

“There are a couple of different players, but not much is going to change,” Miner said.

What effected Colony the most, Miner said, was simply a tough weekend that opened with a 7-2 loss to eventual state champion Service, continued with a grueling 1-0 shootout win over rival Wasilla and concluded with an 8 a.m. match on the final day of the tourney.

“Mental fatigue,” Miner said.

And to add insult to injury, the Knights were victims of a questionable call that ultimately led to an early West Valley lead.

During the 24th minute, Colony was whistled for an infraction in the box. West Valley was given the chance at the penalty kick, and junior Zoe Kurth buried it.

“From our perspective, we were looking at two players going for the ball,” Miner said, noting calls like that can just simply be very difficult for teams to overcome.

Kurth led the Wolfpack, the Mid-Alaska Conference champions, with two goals in the game. Freshman Julie Mackey also scored.

Senior Tara Murray set up a solid chance to tie the game during the 33rd minute. Using her speed, Murray raced down the right side of the field and set up a corner kick, which a crashing Sara Kenley nearly knocked into the goal.

Random shots … Colony is now 10-10 in 20 ASAA state tourney games and 3-4 in the first round. The Knights also own 10 of the 13 wins earned by a Valley girls squad in the state event … Colony’s best finish in state came in 2000 when the Knights were the runners-up. Colony was third in 2004 … Krediet was the lone Knight to be named to the all-tournament team … Service won the 2009 state title with a 4-0 win over Juneau-Douglas and now has 25 straight victories.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.