Colony girls' squad blanks Hawks

HOUSTON -- While the young Houston Hawk squad is still gaining valuable experience, the Colony strikers were fine-tuning their skills.

The veteran Knights blanked the youthful Hawks 10-0 at Houston High School Tuesday.

Though the Knights lost a portion of their defensive players and midfielders from last year to graduation, they still have plenty of experience on the offensive end, and that showed.

Colony booted in five goals in each of the two halves and constantly peppered the Houston goal with shots.

Junior Teresa Hill scored four goals, including one on a penalty kick, and senior captain Sianna Hill tallied a hat trick for the Knights.

Kristina Klapperich, Jessica Tuomi and Ewa Wierzbicki also scored for Colony.

Hill, Amy Straayer and Janell Jensen each chipped in assists.

Julie Costen netted the shutout for CHS.

Colony bounced back to earn the victory over Houston after a pair of early season losses at Juneau.

"We have progressed very well," Colony head coach Lori Miner said. "We took the opportunity to re-strategize and change our game plan. Obviously we made great progress.

"After the losses we looked at the strength of our midfield and defense."

Colony was able to keep the ball in the Houston zone for virtually the entire first half.

Garrod and Hill each scored in the first five minutes of the contest to help Colony leap to an early 2-0 lead.

It was not until about 10 minutes into the game that Houston was able to take a run at the Colony goal. Korinte Westphall drove the ball down to the Colony net, but her opportunity was thwarted by the Knight defense.

Hill registered a goal and an assist in a two-minute span midway through the first half.

Hill booted a penalty kick into the left-hand side of the Houston net and two minutes later booted a shot toward the Hawk goaltender that was redirected into the net by Garrod.

Tuomi registered a goal on a penalty kick with less than five minutes remaining in the first half.

Garrod gave Colony a 7-0 lead with two goals early in the second half.

Hill scored her fourth goal of the game on a header off a pass from Jensen.

A pair of goalkeepers shined for the Hawks in the loss. Whitney Conn and Elizabeth Drew each stood in net for a half and allowed on five goals each despite facing a constant flurry of shots.

The game marked the first time Drew has seen action between the posts.

"She was excellent for her first time in the box," Houston head coach Raul Rodriguez said. "She handled the pressure."