Kards top Knights, win NLC boys title

WASILLA — The Northern Lights Conference Championships boys’ soccer tournament was a roller-coaster ride for the Colony Knights.

During the first two days, despite whatever twists and turns the Knights were dealt, Colony found a way to win.

But Saturday, Kenai was the team to capitalize.

Kenai grabbed an early lead and held on for a 3-1 win over the Knights during the NLC title game Saturday afternoon in Kenai.

Kenai scored twice during a short span and led 2-0 at halftime. Colony was able to cut the Kenai lead in half with an Alex Valdez goal during the 52nd minute, but the Kards iced the game with another score in the 76th minute.

Friday, a day after sneaking in the game-winning goal during the final minute of regulation of a first-round victory over Homer, the Knights watched as Soldotna was awarded a penalty kick three times. But despite the extra opportunities for the opponent, the Knights prevailed again, scoring a 4-3 overtime win over the Stars during the NLC semifinals Friday afternoon in Kenai.

“I’ve never seen three penalty kicks called against the same team (in a match),” Johnson, Colony’s head coach since 1995, said by cellphone from Kenai.

Ben Sande scored in the first minute of overtime to help give Colony the win, and push the Knights into the conference championship match.

Overall, Johnson said he’s thrilled with how his players positively responded to the adversity, and continued to trek forward.

“I’m really proud of the kids’ effort today. We aren’t deep. We don’t play a lot of guys. But they put in the work again,” Johnson said.

Another key, Soldotna was just 1 of 3 on penalty kicks.

“That was huge,” Johnson said.

SoHi converted its first penalty kick to take a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute. But Soldotna’s second penalty kick attempt, just prior to the half, was knocked off the crossbar. A third penalty kick in the 71st minute — which could have given SoHi a lead in regulation — was booted right into the grasp of Colony goalkeeper Chance Fannon.

SoHi took the 1-0 lead in the ninth minute, but Colony responded instantly. Alex Valdez kicked off his natural hat trick with a goal in the 10th minute to tie the game at 1. Johnson said the play started with a Soldotna corner kick. Colony’s Kyle Dearborn used a header to clear the ball off Colony’s goal line. Cameron Shaw sent a through ball up the field. Sande caught up to it, and sent a pass across to Valdez, who one-timed the ball into the SoHi net.

Valdez used two more quick strikes to push Colony’s lead to 3-1, scoring twice during a two-minute span. In the 16th minute, Noah Krozel sent a through ball ahead to set up a Valdez goal. In the next minute, Dearborn did the same to assist on the third Valdez goal within a seven-minute span.

Soldotna cut Colony’s lead to 3-2 during the 29th minute, and tied the score at 3 with a header off a corner kick in the 67th minute.

With the win Friday, Colony also earned a ticket to the state tournament.

“Yesterday it was win or go home. Today it’s win and qualify for state,” Johnson said.

All-Northern Lights Conference

Girls MVP — Peyton Johnstone, Colony.

Boys MVP — Ben Sande, Colony

Girls first team:

Kylie Morse, Kenai; Alia Donley, Wasilla; Abi Tuttle, Soldotna; Gabby Wakaliuk, Colony; Alli Steinbeck, Kenai; Maddie Kindred, Soldotna; Hayley Hagen, Grace; Sam Draves, Homer; Dory Schneider, Palmer; Cori Holmes, Kenai; Ally Hull, Wasilla; Kiley Fish, Palmer; Maddy Morgan, Grace.

Girls second team:

Alexis Friesen, Wasilla; Desi Molina, Palmer; Abby Crawford, Wasilla; Kim Schaezloin, Grace; Brianna Vollertsen, Nikiski; Miki McMullen, Colony; Uliana Reutov, Homer; Sahara Iverson, Colony; Anna Wrobel, Soldotna; Brenna McCarron, Homer; Megan Pitzman, Homer; Hannah Drury, Kenai; Lara Creighton, Kenai; Kaylee Mahler, Colony; Gurpreet Singh, Palmer; Victoria Malak, Wasilla; Alyssa Wolfe, Soldotna; Hannah Love, Nikiski

Boys first team:

Zack Tuttle, Kenai; Brandon Banks, Palmer; Cade Johnstone, Colony; Daniel Beltran, Kodiak; Kyle Broach, Wasilla; Max Dye, Kenai; Dylan Kuntz, Soldotna; Emerson Portillo, Kodiak; Nazai Pavlus, Wasilla; Nick Snow, Grace; Charles Rohr, Homer; Eric Mayoral, Soldotna; Jose Cortez, Kodiak.

Boys second team:

Alex Valdez, Colony; Josh Spannagel, Colony; Simon Dye, Homer; Nouredine Mama, Homer; Ean Atchley, Kenai; Kevin Ramos, Kenai; Cameron Shaw, Colony; Tristan Landry, Kenai; Timmy Smithwick, Soldotna; Caleb Woods, Grace; Tommy Florez, Soldotna; Nikita Antonov, Wasilla; Braydon Goodman, Kenai; Tim Voloshin, Wasilla; Julio Rodriguez, Kodiak; John Burton, Palmer.