Colony girls edge Wasilla, earn NLC title

PALMER — When in doubt, put the ball in play.

Colony senior Sahara Iverson booted a long ball from midfield that sailed into the Wasilla net to provide the lone score during a 1-0 win over the Warriors in the Northern Lights Conference Championships girls’ title game Saturday afternoon at Colony High School.

“We knew we had to hang back, keep our defense back and try to play a counter-attack game,” Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said after the win. “And take our chances when we could.”

When Iverson had her chance, the senior said she was surprised as anyone that the ball made it to the back of the net. Wasilla head cleared the ball into the midfield, and Iverson settled it before sending a booming kick the other direction.

“I totally did not think it was going in,” Iverson said after the match.

Watching her shot hit the net sparked an emotional reaction for the senior.

“I was about to cry honestly. My teammates were hugging me. It was kind of the best thing ever,” Iverson said.

Johnson praised his senior for coming through for the team.

“Sahara has been one of our rocks all year long,” Johnson said. “She’s second on the team in goals, first on the team in assists. She stepped up when we needed her to.”

Johnson said Iverson also has a knack for making that type of play.

“She’s really good at striking the ball from distances, and proved it,” Johnson said.

Wasilla head coach Patrick O’Neill said his team did the right thing on the play. The Warriors cleared the ball.

“Heads up play by Sahara,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill said the rivals play such a different style, and Colony was able to come through with the game-deciding opportunity.

“It’s a tale of two systems really. We posses the ball, try to work it around, break them down. They’re really strong defensively. They’re goal is to get it out, get it to their athletes,” O’Neill said.

Wasilla had some big chances, especially late, but Colony junior goalkeeper Madison Zmuda came through multiple times to preserve the win. Arguably Zmuda’s biggest save of the day came in the 69th minute. Wasilla freshman Reese Sande placed a corner kick in the goalie box, and senior Ally Hull was there to launch a header toward the net. Zmuda wrapped up the shot to make the save.

“Maddy was there for the few she needed to save,” Johnson said. “Beautiful position. She controlled her box like the goalkeeper is supposed to do.”

Zmuda also got a big save on a 1-on-1 chance from Wasilla senior Alia Donley during stoppage play, and knocked away balls on multiple corner kicks in the second half.

Iverson said Zmuda came through big for the Knights, and praised her teammates on the defensive end.

“Amazing. All of our defenders. They’re so great. They have really good ball skills, and they’re really aggressive,” Iverson said.

Johnson said knowing the style Wasilla brings to the turf, Colony knew it would have to excel with the defensive-oriented, counter-attacking game.

“We knew they were a quality, quality team. We knew they could knock the ball around. They really possess the ball well,” Johnson said. “We really put an emphasis on playing a pretty direct game, counter-attack game. We knew it would be really tight, a one or two goal game, and it was.”

Wasilla, the defending NLC champions, played in the title game for the second straight year. Colony was in its first NLC championship match since winning it all in 2014. Saturday’s title comes in Johnson’s first season as the Colony girls’ head coach. Johnson is also the head coach of the CHS boys’ team and has led the Knights to 11 NLC boys’ titles since 1995.

“It’s awesome,” Johnson said of the title. “I can’t even describe it. Wonderful. I told the girls, I don’t know if there is anybody outside of our dressing room and our coaching staff that believed on Day 1 that we were going to be here standing holding the title.”

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