Knight boys win region crown

PALMER -- The Colony boys' soccer squad chose a pretty good time to put together a winning streak.

After a somewhat disappointing start to the 2003 season, Colony put together its first three-game winning streak of the year when it truly counted.

The Knights won a trio of games in two days, capping it off with a 2-0 win over Wasilla to claim the Region III crown.

Colony ousted Soldotna and Palmer before defeating the region's top team from the North Division.

It had not been the easiest season for a squad that has been known as a soccer power in the region. Colony has battled through growing pains, injury and suspension.

"We have had six freshman playing a significant amount of time," Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said. "I told them that no one is just a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior. We are a team."

"We didn't have too good of a regular season, but now we are at full strength," Colony senior Nick VanKirk said.

"All our guys are back from injury and suspension."

The most notable Knight to be back in action is senior Landon Swank, who just finished serving a four-game suspension for throwing an elbow that broke the jaw of Palmer freshman Daniel Brown in a game against the Moose earlier this season.

Swank was instrumental in the success of the Knights during the tournament as he played a part in every goal Colony scored during regulation. The senior center midfielder scored Colony's second goal against Wasilla, connecting on a header off a VanKirk corner kick.

The player who stood out the most for Colony in the championship game was Ian Walton. The freshman keeper made countless saves, but the most important came just minutes into the game.

Seven minutes into the contest, Wasilla's Angelo Ebenol ripped a hard shot toward the top of the Colony net. Walton was able to deflect the shot with just his finger tips. The deflection was enough to push the ball just over the top of the net.

"That was the best save I saw all season," Johnson said.

"I guess I was in the right place at the right time," Walton said. "Wasilla has some good shooters. It was a test. Our defense held up great."

Colony got on the board with just more than 16 minutes left in the first half. Bryan Tomlinson drove the ball down the field for the Knights and made a quick pass to VanKirk. Wasilla keeper Nathan Miller came out to challenge VanKirk and the senior striker put the ball into the lower right side of the Warrior net to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.

Colony jumped to a 2-0 lead just six minutes later with Swank's goal.

After Colony got out to the early lead, Wasilla was able to keep consistent pressure on Colony, but were not able to slip the ball past Walton.

"The first half was rough, Colony dominated," Wasilla head coach Blake Livingston said. "In the second half we applied a lot of pressure."

The contest marked the first appearance for the Warriors in the Region III championship game.

"As a program we have never been here," Livingston said.

Wasilla will also advance to the state tournament for the first time. For leading his team to their highest region finish in school history, Livingston was named the region's boys' coach of the year.

Wasilla's Loren Smith was named boys' player of the year.

Before the Knights even faced Wasilla, they had already played 200 minutes worth of soccer in the tourney.

The Knights opened play with a 1-0 victory over Skyview in the first round and needed a shootout to slip past Palmer 6-5.

The Knights and the Moose were even at 3-3 through regulation. The teams failed to break their tie during 30 minutes worth of overtime periods. The Knights were finally granted victory on an Austin Manelick score in the shootout.