KICKED BACK: Defending state champs bounce Knights

CHUGIAK — The Colony Knights were unable to change their luck against the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears, losing 4-1 Thursday in first round ASAA/First National Bank State Soccer Championships at Tom Huffer Sr. Stadium in Chugiak.

In the first five minutes, Colony forward Jacob Spannagel chased a ball down and pulled the Juneau keeper out of the net. Spannagel sent a cross in front of the net, but the Knights could not capitalize on the scoring opportunity.

From then on, the game was dominated by the Crimson Bears, who scored four goals to move into a semifinal match against West Anchorage.

In the 10th minute, senior Johnny Joyce ripped a ball from 20 yards out and found the back of the net for Juneau. Joyce was assisted by junior Jackson Lehnhart. Juneau continued to retain possession in the offensive end for minutes at a time, and in the 19th minute, Joyce struck again from nearly the same spot, this time unassisted.

Nearing the end of the first half, the Knights showed they were not defeated and fought for offensive possession. Senior John Meaney led the charge, as well as Spannagel.

“I thought we started each half well, and I thought we ended each half well, but in the middles they scored four goals. We did not play good enough soccer to have a chance today,” Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said.

As Johnson observed, Colony began the second half well with multiple scoring opportunities and corner kicks. Colony kept the ball in the Juneau end for nearly the first four minutes, but was unable to score.

“They had quality players who finished their chances. We just didn’t finish when we had scoring opportunities,” Johnson said.

The Crimson Bears started the second half firing as well. Colony keeper Ricky Kubacki challenged a ball well outside the goalie box. Lehnhart was able to get to the ball first and sent it over Kubacki and into the net on a goal assisted by Joyce to give Juneau-Douglas a 3-0 lead.

In the 18th minute of the second half, Colony finally got on the board when Spannagel sent a free kick over a wall of Juneau players just inside the left corner of the Juneau net.

“All the credit in the world to Juneau. They played a great game, they’ve got a great side,” Johnson said.

Lehnhart scored again later in the half to finish the scoring, settling the ball in the middle of the field and deflecting his shot off a Colony defender past Kubacki.

“We’re a young team,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to try to win these next two matches to use it as a learning experience for the guys coming back next year and to send off our seniors well.”

Colony will play West Valley at 5 p.m., today at Chugiak.