After April snows, local teams hope to remain outside

PALMER — It’s been a roller-coaster April for local prep soccer teams.

At the beginning of the month, local players and coaches were treated to official matches outdoors in the Valley at the earliest point of the prep soccer season, maybe ever. Two days worth of matches were followed by massive snowfall. That forced the prep squads back indoors.

Now, fresh off a weekend back on the field, Valley soccer faithful are calling for no more interruptions to the season.

“We were trying to utilize halls spaces, the Menard, trying to do what we could,” Colony head coach Lorie Miner said last week, before her team was able to play outdoor matches against Bartlett, Kenai and Seward. “It puts you back into the old habits, using small spaces instead of utilizing the whole pitch.”

Palmer head coach Harmony Chadwick said the nearly two weeks of April her team spent back inside due to weather after Palmer’s season opener made it tough to build any type of early-season momentum.

“We played South, and we could see things we wanted to work on, but we couldn’t get back out on the field,” Chadwick said after her squad played to a scoreless tie with Kenai Saturday. “But after (a 2-0 loss to) Wasilla, we were able to take the next practice and work on some stuff we had not had the chance to work on, on a full field, which I think was really good.”

The Moose took advantage of that opportunity to practice on a full field and scored a 3-0 win over Seward a day before playing to the tie against Kenai.

Coaches at Colony, Palmer and Wasilla are all optimistic about the potential for their teams during the 2013 season.

Colony Knights

Colony is off to arguably the best start, with conference victories over Wasilla and Kenai. Miner said she is excited about her veteran-laden team.

“We have a very strong senior group, a very strong group of juniors,” Miner said. “Overall, we’re a very talented team.”

Miner said she also feels Colony boasts a well-rounded roster.

“We have a strong front line, a very strong midfield and an ironclad defense,” Miner said.

After allowing a goal to Wasilla in its season opener, that Colony defense has helped the Knights produce shutout wins over Bartlett, Seward and Kenai.

Miner has been excited about senior Tess McKittrick, who has stepped in to own the goalkeeper position, after seeing time as a third-string keeper last season.

The longtime Colony head coach is also excited about a backline that includes junior Rebecca Mackey, senior Savannah Nash and junior Bayli Jenski.

On the other side of the field, seniors Ali Bakier, Zoe Hixenbaugh and Ashley James are expected to be among the threats to score. Colony is also excited about freshman Peyton Johnstone, who scored Colony’s lone goal during a 1-0 win over Kenai last Saturday.

“Peyton Johnstone is a force to be reckoned with in the midfield,” Miner said.

Senior co-captains Sabreena Trenton and Katya Jenkins are also key players for the Knights.

Trenton has already committed to play women’s soccer at Southwestern Oregon Community College next year.

Wasilla Warriors

Wasilla suffered a lopsided loss to Colony in the season-opener, but bounced back to earn a 2-0 win over Palmer last week. Second-year head coach Patrick O’Neill said, once again, Wasilla will be young. But he likes what he sees out of his team so far.

“I’m really excited, encouraged coming into my second season. I have most of my players back from last year,” O’Neill said.

The Warriors did lose key pieces on defense, such as graduated senior Erin Murray. But Wasilla also returns a great deal on the offensive side of the field.

“The majority of our goal scorers from last year are returning players (this year),” O’Neill said.

Among the leaders of that group is sophomore Alexa Starr, who netted 11 goals a freshman. Five of those scores were game-winners.

Wasilla, which graduated only four players last year, has a small senior group this year, with only three 12th-graders on the roster. The Warriors have a handful of juniors and a strong sophomore class.

Two freshmen, Merit Paramo and Haley Brandon, also made the team. O’Neill said both freshman are “really good athletes.”

O’Neill also noted Alexis Butcher, Keanna Hawk and captain Josie Fletcher as keys on the squad. O’Neill said Fletcher brings needed toughness and leadership to the field.

“We’re strong up the middle. That’s where most of our leadership comes from,” O’Neill said. “We have a lot of speed on the outside.”

Palmer Moose

Chadwick said there’s one attribute about her team that certainly stands out — athleticism.

“It’s the same story as last year, a bunch of athletes,” said Chadwick, a PHS graduate and former Palmer girls soccer player. “I think we’ll be pretty competitive.”

The Moose have had success in years past finding standouts from other Palmer High sports. This year is no different. Among Palmer’s top players this season are volleyball standouts Elliot Perkins and Lily Cullers. Caitlin Scott, a starter on the girls basketball team, is on the squad. The Moose also have Jamie Van Hoomissen, who was on the track team last year.

Chadwick hopes to combine that athleticism with the experience of players like senior Miracle Burton.

“Miracle is always a strong player for us,” Chadwick said.

The Moose also welcomed back junior Jordan Brooke, who played as a freshman, but missed last season.

Key moves this year, Chadwick said, include sending senior Shanara Acker to sweeper and promoting junior Kat Godden to starting goalkeeper.

Chadwick also noted promising freshman Meghanne Townsend.

Overall, Chadwick said she likes what the Moose have to offer.

“I think we’re pretty well-rounded,” Chadwick said. “We’re athletic. I think we’ll be competitive.”

Palmer is slated to play its first official home game on turf Wednesday at 4 p.m. against Colony. The Moose are slated to host Soldotna on Friday and Nikiski on Saturday.

Following its game at Palmer on Wednesday, the Knights are scheduled to host Nikiski on Friday and Soldotna on Saturday.

The Warriors are slated to play Skyview on Friday and Homer on Saturday.

** Editor’s note: For a story previewing the Colony, Palmer and Wasilla boys programs, see http://www.frontiersman.com/sports/local-teams-eager-to-continue-to-build/article_74e2868c-a0d9-11e2-8940-0019bb2963f4.html. See an upcoming issue of the Frontiersman for a season preview of the Houston Hawks programs.