3 Valley teams headed to state soccer tournament

SOLDOTNA — A trio of Mat-Su Valley soccer teams have earned spots in the 2008 ASAA State Soccer Championships thanks to top-three finishes during the Northern Lights Conference Soccer Championships at Soldotna High School over the weekend.

The Wasilla girls will join both Colony programs at the state tourney, slated to start Wednesday in Anchorage.

Wasilla punched its state tourney ticket with a 2-1 win over Kenai Central in the semifinals and finished as the runner-up in the girls bracket after a 2-1 loss to host Soldotna in the title match Saturday afternoon.

Both Colony teams needed wins in the third-place games on Saturday morning to get to the state tourney. The Colony boys routed Homer 7-0, while the Colony girls slipped past Kenai 2-1.

The Wasilla boys and both Palmer teams were eliminated during the first day of action.

ASAA is expected to release the state brackets on Sunday.

Northern Lights Conference Championships

Boys bracket

Thursday- quarterfinals

Kenai Central 3, Wasilla 2 (SO)

Colony 3, Nikiski 2

Homer 2, Grace Christian 1

Soldotna 4, Palmer 1

Friday- Semifinals

Kenai Central 1, Colony 0

Soldotna over Homer (score unav.)

Saturday- 3rd place

Colony 7, Homer 0

Saturday- Championship

Kenai Central vs. Soldotna, 4 p.m.

Girls Bracket

Thursday-quarterfinals

Wasilla 4, Homer 0

Kenai Central 1, Palmer 0

Colony 2, Skyview 0

Soldotna 7, Grace Christian 0

Friday- semifinals

Wasilla 2, Kenai Central 1

Soldotna 2, Colony 0

Saturday- 3rd place

Colony 2, Kenai 1

Saturday- Championship

Soldotna 2, Wasilla 1

** All games at Soldotna High School