Colony boys cruise past Grace Christian soccer squad

PALMER — As Colony held a slim 1-0 lead, the Knights watched as Grace Christian capitalized to tie the score at 1 during the 17th minute.

But as the Grizzlies smelled upset, it didn’t take long for the 2013 state runner-up to strike again against the underdogs. Four minutes later, Colony scored the first of seven unanswered goals and posted an 8-1 Northern Lights Conference win over Grace at Colony High Monday night.

Austin Richardson bagged two goals and an assist, and Arty Fonov scored a pair to lead Colony to the win. Ben Atkinson, Asher Dale, Ben Sande and Kyle Bolam also scored for the Knights.

Colony took an immediate lead in the match. Atkinson knocked in a header off a long throw-in courtesy of Chaz Stephens during the first minute. After Grace tied the score at 1 in the 17th, Dale chipped a floater in the air over the head of the Grace keeper during the 21st minute to give CHS the 2-1 lead. Another long Stephens throw-in set up a Sande goal in the 30th.

Richardson factored in on three straight goals during a six-minute span to balloon Colony’s lead to 6-1. Richardson ripped a shot from beyond the 18-yard-line in the 41st for a score. In the 42nd, Richardson set up Bolam’s score. Richardson also tapped in a rebound off a Sande shot in the 47th.

Fonov scored his goals during the 61st and 77th minutes. Alex Kessler set up the first Fonov goal with a throw-in. Fonov scored on a header of a Dale corner kick in the 77th minute.

Sean Haley earned the win in the Knights goal.