Colony boys edge rival in state tourney

EAGLE RIVER — As well as Wasilla senior goalkeeper Kevin O’Laughlin played during back-to-back matches against Colony, goals versus the Warriors have been hard to come by for the Knights.

But Thursday, thanks in part to the play of Colony’s goalkeeper, Sean Haley, and its defense, the Knights needed only one ball to slip past O’Laughlin, for the Knights to get past the Warriors.

Colony senior captain Ben Atkinson scored 18 seconds into regulation, and the Knights held on for a 1-0 win over rival Wasilla during the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank State Soccer Championships at Eagle River High School.

Atkinson’s early goal helped the Knights avenge a 2-1 loss to Wasilla in the Northern Lights Conference Championships boys’ title game last week. The win also moved Colony into the state semifinals, where the Knights will meet NLC rival Homer Friday at 3 p.m. at Anchorage Football Stadium.

After watching O’Laughlin put on a goalkeeping clinic last week, and seeing his team’s region title hopes slip away against the Warriors, Atkinson said he shared a great feeling with his teammates, when the ball hit the back of the net less than 20 seconds into the game.

“No other feeling like it, especially going against Wasilla, with them being our rivals, and the loss we suffered last weekend,” Atkinson said after the win. “There’s no other feeling like it.”

And there was a feeling of relief, not having to play catch-up, like last week, Atkinson said.

“Soccer is a head game really,” Atkinson said. “If they got the first goal and got ahead of us, it would boost their confidence and bring ours down a little bit. Starting it off 18 seconds into the game, putting one in the back of the net definitely kills momentum on their side. They have to start chasing us.”

Right after the opening touch, Colony sent the ball deep into Wasilla’s defensive third. Colony’s Kyle Bolam took possession, and knocked in a ball that curved toward the post. Atkinson crashed the net, and used his left foot to boot the ball in.

Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said it was big for the Knights to get that early goal, especially considering how well O’Laughlin has played against the Knights recently.

“Kevin played another great game down in goal for them, made a few game-saving saves again,” Johnson said.

Haley recorded the shutout for the Knights. The defense, which welcomed back one of its anchors, Chaz Stephens, held strong.

Colony remained healthy, for the most part, throughout the regular season, but suffered key losses to its defense prior to the region tourney. Both Stephens and senior Alex Kessler were injured in practice. Stephens missed the region title match. Kessler was lost for the season.

“You hate to have injuries in practices that change your whole dynamic. That was what happened last weekend. It’s nice to have some of them back,” Johnson said.

The Colony and Homer wins Thursday guarantee an NLC team will reach Saturday’s championship game. Late Thursday, Homer upset Service 3-1 to move into the semifinals. Colony beat Homer 3-0 in Homer during the regular season.

Colony is in search of its four appearance in the state title game in program history. The Knights are 1-2 in three trips to the final.

Wasilla dropped back into the backside of the bracket with the loss and will face Service Friday at 3 p.m. at Eagle River High School. The Warriors are still alive for a top 4 finish in state.