Bears blank Moose

PALMER -- High school athletics is a learning experience.

Athletes learn valuable lessons from parents, coaches, teammates and even opponents.

The Palmer boys' soccer squad may have learned a thing or two as the Juneau-Douglas Bears schooled the Moose 8-0 at Palmer High School on Thursday.

"I am so glad they come up here to play us," Palmer head coach Don Berberich said. "They are so good. They teach us."

Juneau's teaching methods included demonstrations on how to consistently move the ball up the field, pepper the opposition's goalkeeper with shots and score at will.

The Bears were like a painful and annoying thorn in the side of Berberich, his team and especially the Palmer coach's son and goalkeeper, Trenton Berberich.

The Berberich lad was like a sacrificial lamb offered to the soccer gods. The freshman keeper spent his afternoon leaping left and right and running back and forth between the posts of the Palmer net, trying to stop the variety of shots put on goal by the Bears.

According to Berberich, his son took 37 shots in the first half alone.

Late in the second half the Palmer coach gave Trenton Berberich a breather and his back-up goalkeeper an opportunity to see his first varsity action. Bradley Berberich, no relation to Don and Trenton, stopped a handful of shots for Palmer at the end of the contest.

Bradley Berberich, also a freshman, is obviously a team favorite for the Moose. Hoots and hollers came from the Moose bench as the little keeper with the big 'fro made saves in an aggressive fashion.

Don Berberich noted that the game provided a good opportunity to allow everyone the chance to play against one of the state's top teams.

Alex Sadghini was the first Bear to get on the board. Sanghini took a centering pass and put a header into the Palmer net 10 minutes into the contest. Axl Thibedeau scored five minutes later to give the Bears a 2-0 advantage. Lee Sullivan booted a booming kick over Berberich's head 34 minutes into the game to give the Bears a 3-0 lead.

Kiel Urata also scored in the first half.

Sadghini and Thibedeau each scored their second goal of the contest in the second half.

Joe Stendahl and Dylan Ashe added goals for Juneau in the second half.