Colony girls edge Moose for title

PALMER -- The Colony girls' soccer squad took an unbeaten record into the 2003 Region III tournament last weekend and their region record remains flawless.

Colony improved to 10-0 in region play with a 2-1 victory over cross-town rival Palmer in the championship match. The win gave the Knights their third straight Region III title.

Colony was able to strike quick in the contest.

Nineteen minutes in, Teresa Hill gave the Knights a 1-0 lead. Hill took a Sianna Garrod shot that rebounded off Palmer goalkeeper Tara Harrington and put the ball into the left side of the Palmer net.

Just five minutes later the pair the duo combined for another Colony score. This time Hill dropped the ball back to Garrod who weaved through a pair of Palmer defenders booted the ball just under the top post, well above Harrington's head, to give the Knights a two-goal advantage.

The Garrod goal proved to be pivotal for the Knights. The Moose were able to shift the momentum in the second half, but were only able to get one score past Knight goalkeeper Julie Costen.

Garrod's goal was the difference in the game.

Palmer's Felicia Sandvick scored three minutes into the second half to cut the Colony lead to 2-1.

Palmer maintained the momentum after the score, but were unable to tie the game.

"In the first half we came out strong and in the second half we took a breather," Colony head coach Lorie Miner said.

"In the first half they took it to us," Palmer head coach Brian Fish said. "Most of the second half we had the upper hand.

"We seem to be more of a second half team," Fish added. "We need to start off a little better so we don't have to work as hard in the second half."

Palmer could have been the one team in the region to upset Colony. Earlier in the season the Moose and the Knights met at Colony High School in a match that could have gone either way. The Knights narrowly escaped with the victory.

"They are good competition," Colony junior Jessica Tuomi said. "We got a little frustrated in the second and lost momentum."

The victory was extra special for Tuomi who celebrated her birthday on Saturday.

Warrior girls third

The Wasilla girls notched a spot in the state soccer tournament with a 4-1 win over Soldotna on Saturday.

Wasilla's Rachael Roddick scored a pair of goals and Warrior keeper Melissa Wallace allowed just one goal in the win.

Wallace also stopped a penalty kick in the first half to preserve the Warrior lead.

"She made all the shots look like routine saves," Wasilla head coach Tony Jensen said.

"Any time you win to get into state it has got to be good," Jensen said.