Junior leads Wasilla girls past West Valley

WASILLA — On a cold and wet evening at Wasilla High School, the Wasilla Warriors were looking for a spark.

And junior captain Alexis Friesen came through for the Warriors.

Friesen scored on a pair of direct kicks to lead Wasilla to a 2-0 Railbelt Conference victory over the West Valley Wolfpack Friday at Wasilla High School.

“Alexis is a big-time player. She played a big game, came through for her team,” Wasilla head coach Patrick O’Neill said.

Friesen gave the Warriors the lead about 20 minutes into play, tucking a shot into the upper corner of the net from the midfield, about 25 yards. Midway through the second half, Friesen struck again. This time the goal came from the sideline, about 25 yards out.

Aleks Kvalheim recorded the shutout for the Warriors.

“Aleks did a great job of controlling the box,” O’Neill said.

Overall, O’Neill said Friesen was a difference-maker in a tight match.

“The flow was pretty even. It was a good, hard fought battle,” O’Neill said.

The match is part of a new era for both programs. The teams are conference rivals for the first time. During the offseason as ASAA reclassified soccer, the Division I Railbelt Conference was created. The new conference includes Wasilla, West Valley, Colony and Lathrop. West Valley had been the team to beat in the old Mid-Alaska Conference.

“I’m really happy with the win. West Valley is a really competitive team,” O’Neill said. “It’s a team we looked at as a measuring stick to see how we’re doing.”

In boys’ action, West Valley scored a 2-0 win over Wasilla.

Warriors split with North Pole

Nicole Catlett and Emily Summers each notched a hat trick to lead Wasilla to an 11-0 girls’ nonconference win over North Pole Thursday evening.

Reese Sande added two goals and two assists. Kamryn Broach, Leanna Malak and Katie Phillips also scored.

North Pole earned a 2-0 boys’ win over Wasilla.

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