All-purpose Wasilla star to play at college level

WASILLA — Port Angeles, Wash., is starting to look like a home-away-from-home for Valley soccer players.

Peninsula College added another local product — the school’s fifth — recently when Wasilla High School standout Ashlynn Frizzelle signed a National Letter of Intent to play her college soccer there. She joins former Warrior Tabitha Bare, Palmer grads Shawna Thein and Sierra Shelton, and former Colony standout Jessica Farrell on the squad.

With Frizzelle, the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges program gets a versatile player who can make an impact from anywhere on the field, said Wasilla head coach Amber Craig.

“She is a kid who came in here her freshman year, started on varsity and you knew right away she was going to play somewhere (after high school),” Craig said. “Last year, I told her, ‘you should get some (scholarship) money for your skills.’”

Although a defensive specialist, Frizzelle has played nearly every position on the field except goalie, Craig said.

“She plays everywhere,” she said. “That’s what I told the Peninsula coach when I talked to him. I told him he would be lucky to have her and you need to give her some money, because you can put her anywhere. She’s good for any college program because she understands the field so well. You can put her in any position and she knows what needs to be done.”

Frizzelle has played outside left defense, forward and “this year I’m thinking of playing her at midfield, too,” the coach said. “Her natural position is defense, though. She’s got the patience to wait until the attacker makes a mistake.”

Frizzelle said she feels most comfortable on defense, but has been told she may play outside middle or outside back in college.

“I mostly play defense, but I also play striker, too,” she said, adding that patience is the key to being a good defender. “I just read how they play and I let them make the first move before I do anything. Then I can see the whole field and it’s easy to (pass to) people.”

Frizzelle gives the Warriors an advantage when she plays defense, Craig said. Not only can she break up the opposing team’s offense, she can create for Wasilla.

“Not only can she win the ball, she makes these runs with the ball and gets a handful of goals from defense, too,” Craig said. “She’s done everything I’ve expected, and then some.”

While signing her NLI — which Frizzelle described as “pretty cool and very exciting” — she has more immediate goals on the pitch this season.

“Probably my first goal would be winning regions this year and making it farther in state,” she said. “We’ve made it (to state) every year I’ve been here.”

That so many former Valley athletes are at Peninsula College is comforting, the WHS senior said.

“(Bare) is a lot of fun, and told me the level of play is a lot faster,” she said. “Also, she said the team and coach are pretty fun.”

She’s also excited to take her game to a higher level and improve.

“I know I need to work more on my left foot, do more shooting,” she said.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.