Colony's title hopes go South

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

ANCHORAGE - The Colony Knights barely had time to breathe over the weekend.

The three-day, three-game state tournament turned into a soccer marathon for the Knights.

After a nail-biting 3-2 victory over Skyview on Thursday and a 1-0 shootout win over Palmer on Friday, Colony dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to South Anchorage in the state title game on Saturday.

Will Zeigahn scored each of South's goals, his last with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, and the Wolverines earned their first state championship in the first year of their soccer program.

The Knights needed a pair of Teemu Maki goals in the final six minutes to top Northern Lights Conference rival Skyview in the opening round of the state tourney. That anxiety-filled win gave Colony the chance to play Valley foe Palmer in the semifinals. And after more than 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Knights needed three goals in a shootout to earn a spot in the title game.

"We definitely came in a little sore and a little tired, but it's all guts when it comes to this game," Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said. "I've got to give my players all the credit in the world. They gave it all they had, but unfortunately South was just one goal better today."

Zieghan used a mammoth shot and a little luck to give South its two scores. In the 78th minute, Zieghan ripped a shot into the upper right corner of the Colony net. South sophomore Andrew Campbell set the up the score by taking the ball off a throw-in, and sending a kick toward the center of the field. Zieghan caught the pass of his chest, and booted the ball in the net. Colony goalkeeper Jake Williams stretched out to make the save, but the shot went high in the Knight net.

Zieghan chipped in a rebound in the 14th minute to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead. Oscar Tobicia put the initial South shot on goal, and Williams made the save. But on the wet turf, the wet ball slipped out of the hands of Williams and Zieghan was right there to put the garbage goal in the net.

"Jake's been great for us all year," Johnson said. "I can't say anything bad about Jake. It was an unfortunate first goal."

Once South took the 1-0 lead, the Wolverines settled into a nauseating game of defensive soccer. South kept most of its squad back, and built a little fortress around goalkeeper Eammonn Smith and the Wolverine net.

"They were really compact in back," Johnson said. "One of our adjustments in the second half was to knock the ball wide, and try to get some crosses. In the first half we came up the middle, and they clogged it pretty well."

Colony owned two-thirds of the field for much of the game, but once the Knights moved the ball up to Fort Wolverine, Colony could not consistently move play through.

The Knights had opportunities in the second half. Early in the second, Colony junior Ian Walton had a 1-on-1 opportunity against Smith, but slipped on the wet turf. Two minutes later Walton put a shot on goal, but the stiff and compact Wolverine defense forced Walton to send a soft shot to the right of the net. Colony tried to create space with the combination plays. Jarrod Carney took a Will Curtis cross, but put a header above the net. Gerald Miller set up Bryan Tomlinson with a cross, but Tomlinson's shot was saved cleanly by the keeper.

Colony put a digit on the scoreboard with just more than nine minutes remaining in regulation on a Maki penalty kick. Maki put the shot into the lower left side of the net - in front of a diving Smith.

Colony (15-2-2) had owned a 1-0 series advantage against the first-year program. Early in the season the Knights scored a 4-0 win over South at Colony High School. Johnson said there are many difference between Colony's win over South in early May, and the loss to the Wolverines in the state title game. The title game is played on turf, and on a wider field. South had players who returned from injury after the first

meeting.

"They raised their game. It's a tribute to their coaches," Johnson said. "I thought we played with them the whole game. We just didn't quite finish a couple of opportunities, and that's the way the ball bounces, as they say."

Colony should be among the state's best next season as well. The Knights have 13 juniors on the 2005 roster, and only five seniors.

"We sure hope to be back in this game and win it next year," Johnson said.

Random shots … Colony made the trip to the state title game for the second time in the history of the program. The tournament marked the five-year anniversary of the Knights' 2000 state championship … The tournament was also the 10-year anniversary of Palmer's 1995 state championship … Johnson is a 1992 graduate of PHS … Earlier this season, Johnson became the third coach in the history of prep boys soccer in Alaska to reach 100 wins. He now has 112 victories … Curtis, Maki and Williams were each named to the all-tournament team for Colony … Palmer junior Devon Conroy, Palmer junior Katy Applin and Wasilla senior Beck Hesselbach were also named all-tourney … The Palmer boys and Wasilla girls squads earned tournament sportsmanship awards … The Palmer boys were 1-2 in the tourney, posting a win over West and losses to Colony and Juneau. The Bears defeated the Moose 3-0 to take third … The Wasilla girls were 1-2 in the event, with losses to South and Homer, and a 2-0 win over Bartlett … The Palmer girls finished 0-2 in the tournament. The Moose suffered losses to Dimond and region-rival Homer.