Colony boys top Kenai, South

PALMER — His strategy may have not been specifically designed to motivate, but the game plan of longtime head coach Jeremy Johnson created a spark amongst his starters.

After sitting for the final 20 minutes of the first half, the Colony starting lineup combined to produce three goals within the first 15 minutes of the second half, and Colony earned a 3-0 win over Kenai Friday at Colony High.

“At the 20-minute mark, I subbed every single starter,” said Johnson, the second all-time winningest coach in Alaska prep soccer history. “We feel like we have a really deep team. I wanted the starters to get 20 minutes in each half. It was a decision I made before the game.”

It’s not the first time Johnson has done something like this during the first month of the 2013 season. With one of the deepest teams outside the Cook Inlet Conference, the Knights are trying to develop that depth as Colony heads into the heart of its Northern Lights Conference schedule.

And while Colony’s second 10 was getting work on the field, a byproduct of the strategy was the starters’ motivation to get back onto the field.

That led to three goals during an 11-minute span. Kyle Bolam beat Kenai keeper Wren Norwood during the 50th minute to give the Knights the 1-0 lead. Ben Atkinson picked up an assist on the play.

A pair of brothers combined for Colony’s second goal. Senior Tanner Menard ripped a shot toward the upper right corner. The ball bounced back and Harrison Menard tapped in the rebound.

Harrison Menard also set up Colony’s final goal, a Chris Olsen score at the 61st minute.

Colony also played without two of their top athletes during the Kenai win. Jake Spannagel was ill, and Nick Blohm was lost to injury during the first minute of regulation.

Spannagel returned to the lineup on Saturday to help Colony score a key nonconference win. Spannagel scored during the 64th minute to lead the Knights to a 1-0 win over South Anchorage.

“They’re a good, quality side, and we showed up to play,” Johnson said.

Johnson also praised the work of his goalkeeper, Greyson Grediagin.

“Greyson came up huge,” Johnson said.

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