Hawks clinch spot in 3A state title game

FAIRBANKS — It took 56 shots, but the Houston Hawks found a way to punch their state tournament ticket.

Sophomore Reed Humphreys scored with 13 seconds left in double-overtime to lift Houston to a 2-1 win over Glennallen/Kenny Lake in the Greatland Conference second-place game Saturday night in Fairbanks.

Houston, the defending 3A champions, now has a chance to play for its second straight state title. The Hawks face Monroe Catholic Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in 3A title game at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.

Houston, which beat Monroe 3-0 in the championship last year, rallied in the Greatland’s double-elimination format to secure its spot in state. The Hawks, the No. 3 seed, were 2-0 on the first day of the tourney, beating Tri Valley and second-seeded Delta, but suffered a 5-0 loss to undefeated Monroe in the Greatland championship game. Top-seeded Monroe won the region title with the win over Houston Friday and earned the first spot in the 2016 3A state championship game. Despite the loss to Monroe, Houston had another chance to get to state, playing the winner of the loser’s bracket, Glennallen/Kenny Lake.

Houston outshot the Panthers 56-17 in the victory. Senior Caleb Beauvais made 16 saves in the Hawks win. Mikki Freindshuh finished with 54 saves for the Panthers.

Glennallen/Kenny Lake led early, using a Miguel Saavedra goal to take a 1-0 lead. Late in the first, Austin Zweifel tied the score for the Hawks. Tristan Hracha recorded a pair of assists for Houston.

For more on the Hawks, see the Friday edition of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.