Freshmen help Wasilla girls edge Knights

ANCHORAGE — With only four returning starters, first-year Wasilla head coach Patrick O’Neill knows some of his newcomers will have to contribute in order for the Warriors to have success.

Late last week, a pair of freshmen helped Wasilla win its season opener. Freshman Alexis Abbott set up fellow freshman Alexa Starr’s go-ahead goal to lead the Warriors to a 2-1 win over rival Colony at The Dome in Anchorage.

“With only four returning starters and a lot of new starters, it was a good way to start the season,” O’Neill said.

Starr broke the 1-1 tie with 15 minutes left in regulation. Starr took a pass from Abbott at the top of the box, cut to her left and knocked an 18-yard blast into the upper corner.

“(Alexa) got the ball, made a real nice move and made a nice shot,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill said he’s known Starr has the potential to make an immediate impact at the varsity level, but has also been very impressed with Abbott.

“What I really like about Alexis Abbott is her footwork. She has really good feet, good touch for the ball,” O’Neill said.

Wasilla senior Nikki Vanni gave Wasilla the early lead, converting a penalty kick during the 12th minute. Vanni, a former Northern Lights Conference Player of the Year, typically plays in the midfield, but O’Neill also used the senior as a striker in the match.

O’Neill was also pleased with the play of his goalkeeper, Crystal Branson, who made six saves.

“We had questions about our goalkeeper which were answered. She did a great job,” O’Neill said of the sophomore.

Colony’s Savannah Nash tied the score the score two minutes after Vanni gave the Warriors the 1-0 lead.

Colony head coach Lorie Miner said the Knights, who dropped to 0-1-1, are still trying to adjust to playing on the big field.

“It’s difficult when we’re still in the Menard center and not outside to adjust to the larger space,” Miner said.

Miner said she sees improvement each time the Knights hit the big field, but the Wasilla match marked only the second time the Knights have been able to play on the full-sized turf.

Wasilla continues play Wednesday against Palmer at 10:30 a.m. at The Dome. The Knights meet the Moose April 25 at The Dome.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.