Colony boys score ‘huge win’ at Dimond

PALMER — The Dimond Lynx were considered the team to beat in Alaska’s Division I boys class.

Until Friday.

Colony bested the previously undefeated Lynx 2-0 Friday evening at Dimond High School in Anchorage.

“Huge win for us,” Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said by phone after the match. “The defacto top two teams (in the state).”

Martin Jones and Kyle Dearborn each scored for the Railbelt Conference leading Knights during the win over the top team in the Cook Inlet Conference. The loss is Dimond’s first in 15 matches this season. The only other blemish on Dimond’s record this year is a scoreless tie against the Knights early in the season.

“It gives us a lot of confidence moving forward,” Johnson said.

Jones gave Colony the lead midway through the first half with a long throw-in that got a little help from the wind. Johnson said the throw came from about 35 yards out and was caught in the wind before the ball was misplayed by the Dimond goalkeeper before finding its way into the net.

Dearborn gave Colony a bit of breathing room about a minute into the second half. Johnson said the scoring play started when a ball bounced off Mike Shower and behind the defense. Dearborn chased it down, and as the keeper challenged, Dearborn chipped the ball over the keeper and into the net.

“Beautiful goal,” Johnson said.

Overall, Johnson said he’s thrilled with how his team played against the Lynx.

“The midfield really feel like they controlled the game,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the Knights also played well the last time they saw the Lynx.

“The one thing we didn’t do the last time was score,” Johnson said. “It was nice to find the back of the net this time.”

Colony girls threaten streak

Dimond brought a 52-game unbeaten streak to the turf Friday.

And it was in jeopardy.

Dimond needed a pair of unanswered goals to rally to top Colony 2-1 in nonconference action Friday at Dimond High School.

“I feel great,” head coach Jeremy Johnson said about the play of his team against the Lynx, who are now 50-0-3 over the past three seasons.

It was Colony’s second meeting of the season against Dimond, which beat the Knights 3-1 in April. In first match, Colony scored the first goal of the season against Dimond. Friday, Colony became only the second time this year to take a lead against the Knights.

Gabby Wakaliuk scored in the first half, tucking a ball into the lower right corner of the net, to give the Knights the 1-0 lead. Late in the half, following a Colony opportunity in the Dimond attack, the Lynx cashed in on the counter attack to tie the game at 1.

Dimond netted the game-winner in the second half.

Moose split at Nikiski

Freshman Catherine Uschmann scored in each half to lead Palmer to a 3-1 girls soccer win at Nikiski Friday afternoon.

Uschmann scored seven minutes into regulation to give he Moose the lead, and added another goal during the 63rd minute.

Kiley Fish also scored off a corner kick for the Moose.

In boys action, Nikiski blanked Palmer 4-0.

Warriors split at Soldotna

Kamryn Broach scored twice to lead Wasilla to a 2-1 nonconference girls soccer win over Soldotna Friday in Soldotna.

Alexis Friesen and Reese Sande recorded an assist each.

The Soldotna boys beat Wasilla 4-1.

Wasilla girls blank Kenai

Reese Sande scored twice to lead Wasilla to a 4-0 nonconference win over Kenai Saturday in Kenai.

Kamryn Broach and Abby Crawford also scored for the Warriors.

Broach gave Wasilla an early lead during the third minute. Seven minutes later Sande converted a penalty kick.

Sande added her second goal, with an assist from Broach, late in the first half.

Crawford ripped a shot from about 20 yards out in the second half.

Aleks Kvalheim recorded her ninth shutout of the year in the Wasilla net.

Moose fall in Homer

Delaney Shults scored the lone goal during Palmer’s 4-1 loss to the Homer girls Saturday in Homer.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com