Despite key losses, Warrors hold onto tie

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

PALMER - Before the final whistle of its match sounded against Colony, Monday afternoon, the Wasilla boys soccer squad had already suffered a pair of losses.

Starting goalkeeper Joe Hunter and Robbie Champion, Wasilla's field general on defense, each were forced to leave the game due to injury.

But despite the key losses, the Warriors were able to hold onto a 1-1 tie.

"We faced a lot of adversity today, especially in the second half," Wasilla head coach Blake Livingston said. "Different guys really stepped up."

Two players in particular were forced to step up - freshman Matthew Stearman and junior Zach Bennett.

Just minutes into the second half, Colony senior Teemu Maki dove along the left side of the Wasilla net, and as he was falling, booted a shot into the Warrior goal to tie the score at 1-1. On the play, as he slid to make a save, Hunter was injured.

And if that loss was not enough, soon after in the second half, Champion collided with Colony junior Ian Walton and Champion was injured and forced to leave.

Even though Maki's goal sparked the Knights offensively, and despite the increased Colony pressure, Stearman and Bennett led the defensive charge that helped Wasilla conserve at least the tie.

Stearman, in his first career appearance in Wasilla's net, stopped all the shots he faced in the second half.

"Matthew had a really calming presence out there," Livingston said of the freshman. "He did an exceptional job."

Livingston also praised the effort of Bennett, who moved from his position at midfield to sweeper, to replace Champion.

"It was really a blue-collar effort," Livingston said. "Colony has a really solid team and a lot of weapons. Our defense really dug in and did what they needed to do."

Adam Friese gave the Warriors the 1-0 advantage with a score midway through the first period. In traffic, on a right-footed kick, Friese put a shot just beyond the fingertips of a diving Jake Williams.

"It was an opportunistic goal," Livingston said. "Adam has a knack for being at the right place at the right time."

Colony and Wasilla are now each 3-0-1 after the

tie.

Wasilla 4, Service 2

A Victor Fonov hat trick led the Warriors to a 4-2 win over visiting Service High School on Saturday.

David Kellner-Rode also scored in the nonconference win.

Colony 2, Skyview 1

The Knights scored a pair of unanswered goals to defeat Northern Lights Conference foe Skyview on Saturday at Colony High School.

After Jason Smith gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the third minute of action, Bryan Tomlinson and Jarrod Carney posted Colony goals to lead to the Knight

win.

Tomlinson, on an assist from Austin Manelick, scored just before the half. Midway through the second Tomlinson fed Carney with a pass and the junior striker posted the game-winner.

Colony 4, Homer 0

Four different players scored and Williams notched a shutout in a 4-0 Colony win over conference-rival Homer at CHS on Friday.

Williams, not only stopped every Mariner shot he saw in goal, he factored into the scoring. Late in the second half, after making a stop on a penalty kick, Williams saw Colony senior Dan Camargo breaking down the field and booted a long ball. Camargo scored on a breakaway.

Palmer 3, Skyview 1

The Moose earned a 3-1 Northern Lights victory over the Panthers at Colony High School on Friday. The game was moved from PHS because of high winds and an air quality warning in the Palmer area.