As teams across the Valley struggle with field conditions, Palmer girls’ soccer team finally gets the chance to hit the turf

PALMER — It was only a scrimmage. But the Palmer Moose could not have been more excited.

After spending weeks steadily chipping away the snow and ice from their own turf at Machetanz Field, the Moose had a chance to scrimmage Homer Friday afternoon at Colony High School.

“Absolutely great, so exciting,” Palmer head coach Harmony Chadwick said after the scrimmage. “We still haven’t (played on) a full field at home.

Palmer was slated to open its season Friday against the Mariners at Palmer High, but it became apparent midweek the match was in jeopardy.

“We were actually back in the gym the other day,” Chadwick said.

Chadwick said the ice on the Palmer field is starting to turn to slush.

“We could have probably moved it yesterday, but we decided we needed the practice,” Chadwick said.

Colony High gave Palmer the chance to play junior varsity and varsity girls games against Homer Friday afternoon, but Palmer was not able to find enough referees in a short amount of time and opted for a scrimmage instead.

Chadwick said the Moose were more interested in playing on a full field, regardless of whether it was an official match or not.

“It felt good for the girls to actually send long balls,” Chadwick said.

Palmer did get an opportunity to play an official match against Homer Saturday morning. Delaney Shults scored for the Moose during the 1-1 draw with the Mariners.

The Moose girls and boys are among athletes from team in several sports across the Valley trying to find their way outside so they can start their seasons.

“We’re anxious to get going and get out on the field,” Wasilla girls soccer head coach Patrick O’Neill said recently.

Friday, O’Neill said Wasilla’s turf at Veterans Memorial Field is about 90 percent clear. He said he hopes it’s completely clear by Monday or Tuesday. O’Neill’s Warriors have already lost a match against West Anchorage. Another against Bartlett was postponed until Wednesday. The Wasilla boys were scheduled to host South Anchorage last week, but were unable to play.

The Wasilla Warriors baseball team has also felt Mother Nature’s wrath. The Warriors had home games against Chugiak, Dimond, West Valley and Lathrop scheduled during the upcoming week, but all have been cancelled.

As the Palmer girls played Homer on the Colony turf Friday afternoon, members of the Colony High track and field team shoveled snow off the track. Colony is scheduled to host the Valley’s first track and field meet of the season Wednesday.

Houston unable to field girls soccer team

The Houston Hawks will be unable to field a girls soccer team this seasons, activities director Dave Porter confirmed Friday. Porter said the Hawks do not have enough players to have a team in 2018.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.