Colony girls grab first soccer wins of season; boys split

PALMER — After settling for a loss and a pair of ties during their first three matches of the season, the Colony Knights have found the win column.

Colony used a three-goal first half to beat Skyview 3-2 Saturday at Colony High School. The Knights also beat Homer 2-0 at CHS on Friday.

“Defense has been a big key,” Colony head coach Lorie Miner said after the victory over the Panthers. “The defense has done a very good job out there.”

Miner specially noted the work of Nicole Lindsay and Sierra Copeland on the defensive end, and goalkeeper Jaden Chew, who has allowed only two goals in Colony’s last three games.

“They’re in sync with each other. There’s really good communication,” Miner said.

The Colony defense also had some help from its offense during the first 40 minutes. Sabrina Pralle, Ali Baker and Zoe Hixenbaugh scored during the first half for the Knights. Sabreena Trenton and Bristyl Baker recorded assists.

“We were connecting passes, winning the 50-50 balls,” Miner said.

Skyview was able to get on the scoreboard late in the first half with a Cheyanne Laber goal.

“We tried to fight back, but you don’t let Colony get up on you that much,” Skyview head coach Dan Carpenter said. “We just had some key mistakes.”

Skyview closed the gap in the second half when Ciarra Mahan converted a penalty kick.

On Friday, Katya Jenkins and Baker scored during the 2-0 win over Homer.

Colony boys split

PALMER — Sophomore Chas Stevens scored a pair of first-half goals to lead the Colony Knights to a 4-0 win over Skyview Saturday at Colony High.

John Meaney and Chris Olsen also scored to help Colony rebound from a 3-2 loss to Homer on Friday.

Ricky Kubacki and Greyson Grediagin combined for the shutout in the Colony net.

Meaney scored during the 11th minute to give the Knights the early lead. Ben Atkinson sent a ball up the field and Meaney sprinted into the box to knock the shot into the net.

Seven minutes later, Colony used a pair of headers to push its lead to a pair of goals.

Atkinson sent the ball across the field and senior Sean Colette kept the play alive in the left corner of the field by heading the ball toward the goal. Stevens crashed in and headed the centering pass into the net.

Stevens and Chris Olsen scored later in the half.

“We were moving the ball well, controlling, not trying to be individuals. We started working together as a team,” Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said.

Lennart Von Schlichting scored a pair of goals to lead Homer to the 3-2 win over Colony on Friday. Kyle Wisner also scored for the Mariners.

After Homer took a 1-0 lead, Olsen tied the score in the first half. Meaney added a second-half goal for the Knights.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.