Retiring teacher, coach urges Colony grads to ‘find their 68’
By Jeremiah Bartz Frontiersman.com A football coach using a hockey reference as the centerpiece for his keynote address may
2 min read
There are 10 prep soccer teams in the Mat-Su Valley. Eight qualified for the Division I and Division II state tournaments. Four are now one win away from a state championship match.
The Colony boys and girls, Wasilla girls and Palmer boys all won during the quarterfinal round of the 2025 ASAA/First National Bank State Soccer Championships Thursday.
The Colony boys, the top seed in the Division I boys bracket, outlasted South Anchorage 2-1 in overtime. It was a rematch of the 2024 state championship game. South won the crown last year, but the Knights are moving forward to play fifth-seeded West Valley Friday at 7 p.m. in the semifinals. Finn Hoffman scored the game-winner in overtime. Alex King also scored on a diving header for the Knights.
A pair of Valley teams are among the Division I girls final four. Fifth-seeded Colony upset fourth-seeded Service 2-1. Avrie Geigerich scored both goals for Colony.
Third-seeded Wasilla edged sixth-seeded Lathrop, a conference rival, 2-1.
Lainey Kroon scored the game-winner during the final minutes of the match. Makenna Hanson earned the assist. Dani Steiner opened the scoring for the Warriors, with a header off an assist from Kroon.
Colony plays top-seeded Dimond Friday at 5 p.m. Wasilla High, and Wasilla meets No. 2 South Anchorage Friday at 5 p.m. at Colony in the semifinals.
Palmer, the No. 3 seed in the Division II boys tournament, blanked sixth-seeded Homer 5-0. The Moose play second-seeded Ketchikan Friday at 3 p.m. at Colony.
The Wasilla boys, Houston boys, Palmer girls and Redington girls suffered first-round losses Thursday.
Third-seeded West Anchorage beat No. 6 Wasilla 4-0. The Warriors play seventh-seeded Service Friday at 11 a.m. at Palmer High.
Second-seeded Ketchikan beat Houston 5-0. The No. 5 Hawks play Homer Friday at 3 p.m. at Palmer.
Top-seeded Kenai earned a 7-0 win over Redington in the Division II girls tourney. The Huskies play Grace Christian Friday at 9 a.m. at Colony.
Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.
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