Colony boys draw unknown in NLC soccer tourney

PALMER — Most teams will line up against familiar foes when the Northern Lights Conference Championships soccer tournament begins Thursday. But not the Colony boys.

The Knights, the top seed from the NLC North Division, drew Kodiak, a first-year varsity program in the quarterfinals. Colony didn’t see Kodiak during the regular season, and Thursday’s match, slated for at 1 p.m. at Colony High, will mark the first meeting between the two programs.

“It’s good and bad,” Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said of the meeting with Kodiak, the No. 4 seed from the NLC South. “I know they’re a young program. I’ve seen some of the scores. They might not be the strongest side, but on the other hand, you have no idea what to expect from a side like that. It’s the trepidation of seeing nothing.”

Colony, the defending state champion, and Kodiak share the same side of the bracket as Soldotna, the No. 2 seed from the South, and Grace Christian, the No. 3 seed from the North. SoHi and Grace meet Thursday at 5 p.m. at Colony High.

On the top side of the bracket, Kenai, the top seed from the South, meets fourth-seeded Palmer Thursday at 1 p.m. at Palmer High. Second-seeded Wasilla plays third-seeded Homer Thursday at 5 p.m. at PHS.

The boys semifinals are scheduled for 1 and 6 p.m. The third-place game is Saturday at noon, and the boys championship game is Saturday at 4. All matches on Friday and Saturday are at Palmer High.

Wasilla earned the top seed in the girls bracket, and will meet fourth-seeded Nikiski Thursday at 3 p.m. at Colony High. On the same side of the bracket, second-seeded Kenai and third-seeded Grace Christian play Thursday at 3 p.m. at PHS.

Colony landed the No. 2 seed from the North, and plays Homer Thursday at 11 a.m. at CHS. Palmer, the No. 4 seed, plays top-seeded Soldotna Thursday at 11 a.m. at PHS.

The girls semifinal games are scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Palmer High. The girls third-place game is Saturday at 10 a.m. and the championship game is Saturday at 2 p.m.