Retiring teacher, coach urges Colony grads to ‘find their 68’
By Jeremiah Bartz Frontiersman.com A football coach using a hockey reference as the centerpiece for his keynote address may
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PALMER — Lorie Miner expected Soldotna to provide her team with arguably its most difficult test of the young season. Following a tough 1-1 draw with the Stars, the longtime Colony girls head coach said she would have liked to see the Northern Lights Conference rivals face off when high winds didn’t rule the day.
“We couldn’t find our passing game. The wind was whipping,” Miner said following the game Saturday.
Rebecca Mackey notched the lone goal for the Knights, scoring off a direct kick following a foul in the first half. Mackey’s score gave CHS the 1-0 lead. Soldotna scored later in the first half to tie the game.
The Stars goal snapped Colony’s streak of more than five full matches without allowing a goal. In six prior matches this season, Colony had only allowed a goal to Wasilla in the first half of its season opener.
Colony (6-0-1) averaged more than 20 shots per game heading into the contest, and had not allowed more than five shots on goal in any match. The Knights finished with 12 shots Saturday, and Soldotna had 10.
“We knew they’d be a tough team,” Miner said.
The Colony boys scored all four of its goals during the first half of a 4-0 win over Soldotna.
Andrew Knowles and Kyle Bolam each scored twice for the undefeated Knights. Knowles scored off a pair of Colony corner kicks, accounting for his team’s first and fourth goals. Jake Spannagel set up each of Knowles’ goals.
Bolam used his goals to help the Knights push their advantage to 3-0.
“Probably team play overall,” Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said of what stood out during the four-goal first half. “We were really knocking the ball around, creating chances on crosses.”
Sean Haley earned the shutout in the Knights net.
Knights sweep Nikiski
PALMER — Freshman Peyton Johnstone posted a hat trick to lead Colony to a 6-0 girls win over Nikiski on Friday.
Rebecca Mackey added two goals and Ali Baker also scored.
Tess McKittrick earned her fifth straight shutout.
Jake Spannagel scored twice to lead the Colony boys to a 3-0 win over Nikiski on Friday. Asher Dale also scored.
Greyson Grediagin earned the shutout for Colony.
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