Houston coach thrilled with team’s effort during loss to Nikiski

HOUSTON — As the Houston Hawks entered the 2010 season, first-year head coach Colton Conner vowed not to fixate on this team’s record.

With a young team that includes only 14 players, Conner’s focus is to build a foundation for the program. He wants his team to play hard, be competitive.

With that in mind, Conner was pretty happy about his team’s effort during a 3-1 loss to Nikiski at Houston High School on Friday.

“I couldn’t ask for the guys to play better,” Conner said. “They really proved to themselves they can play a soccer game. I think they now know they can compete, which is good.”

Nathan Stangel scored twice and Tyler Peek added a late goal for the Bulldogs during the victory.

Stangel came up the right side of the field and fired a shot into the far side of the net to give Nikiski the 1-0 lead during the 13th minute. Stangel pushed the Bulldogs’ advantage to 2-0 in the 57th minute when he sent a hard strike from just outside the penalty box into the right side of the net.

“This was the best game that he’s had since he’s been playing soccer for me,” Nikiski head coach Jim Coburn said of Stangel. “He’s improved every practice, improved every year.”

Peek knocked in a loose ball during the 65th minute to give the Bulldogs the 3-1 lead.

Josh Bowman put the Hawks on the scoreboard when he converted a penalty kick during the 71st minute. Bowman capitalized on an opportunity set up when teammate Travis Patterson was taken down inside the penalty box. Bowman and Patterson also played competitive club soccer outside of Houston High and are two of Houston’s leaders.

“I was pretty confident with those two comp kids,” Conner said. “It’s like a fast-break lay-up. Those kids can put it in the net when given the opportunity.”

Houston’s best offensive chances may have come during the first 10 minutes of play. Houston had a handful of shots early, before Stangel was able to give Nikiski the lead with his first goal of the game.

“In the first 8-10 minutes of the game we had six or seven shots. Three of them had full potential to go in,” Conner said.

Stangel shifted the momentum with his first goal, and the Bulldogs held on to it.

“We got a ton of shots,” Coburn said. “Trying to finish is the hardest thing when you haven’t been on the soccer field all season.”

Houston goalkeeper Andy Goeke, playing his first career match in the net, made numerous saves in the game.

“I can’t say enough,” Conner said. “The kid’s a natural athlete. He naturally wants to make plays, naturally goes after the ball.”

Goeke made a number of diving saves, snagged shots out of the air and put himself in front of point-blank chances.

“Without him being an athlete, that game could have been a little gross,” Conner said. “He just sees the field. He knows where the ball’s going and he’s there.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.