Knight girls grab third

PALMER -- The Colony Knights girls' soccer team exceeded personal expectations and silenced doubters with a 3-2 win over East Anchorage High School to take third place in the ASAA state soccer tournament at Colony High School on Saturday.

Senior captain Jessica Tuomi converted a pair of penalty kicks and sophomore forward Megan Pfile added the game-winning goal against the Thunderbirds to help the Knights capture the bronze medal of the tourney.

"Many people doubted our abilities," Colony head coach Lorie Miner said.

The Knights sported a very young squad this season, a stark contrast to last year in which Colony won its third straight region crown. The Knights finished 5-1-1 during the regular season in Region III play, but still were not factored into the top teams in the region by critics.

"No one expected us to go into regions and come out with a third-place finish," Miner said.

But the Knights overcame a tough 1-0 overtime loss to Grace Christian in the tourney semifinals, and defeated Valley foe Palmer 1-0 to earn a one-way ticket to the state tourney. The Knights used their combination of young talent and veteran leadership to hit a stride late in the season.

"We hit our peak right around regionals," Miner said. "We started to gel."

Miner said the juniors on the field began to use their skill and knowledge and assisted Knight senior starters -- Tuomi and forward Kelsey Johnson -- with the on-field leadership.

A pair of key Tuomi penalty kicks allowed Colony to stay on pace with East. The Thunderbirds took a 1-0 lead, but Tuomi tied the game soon after with her first free kick. Samantha Englishoe bounced in a header of the corner kick late in the first half to give East a 2-1 lead, but early in the second half Tuomi tied the game once again.

Seven minutes into the second frame, Johnson was tripped near the East goal box while trying to make a shot. Tuomi converted her second free kick to tie the score at 2-2.

Late in the game Pfile posted the game-winner, a breakaway score. The goal was Pfile's third of the state tournament.

Tuomi and Pfile supplied the offense, but Colony goalkeeper Brieta Clemmer could have factored most heavily in the win.

"Brieta Clemmer saved our butts," Miner said.

Clemmer made numerous crucial saves in the contest and was not only tested by the Thunderbird shots, but the aggressive style of East play around the Colony net.

Miner said the Knights were not only validated by the win over East, but the result of the girls state title game. Juneau-Douglas upset state soccer power Service 2-1 in the title game. On Friday, Juneau just slipped past Colony, defeating the Knights 1-0.

"I feel very proud knowing Juneau got two goals on Service and we only lost 1-0," Miner said.

Pfile and Tuomi were each named to the state all-tournament team after the event. In addition to its third-place trophy, Colony also received the team sportsmanship award.

Pfile, Clemmer and Tuomi also received player of the game honors. Pfile was named player of the game after scoring two goals in a 2-1 win over Homer on Thursday, Clemmer was named player of the game after the Knights' 1-0 loss to Juneau, and Tuomi received the honor following the win over East.

Contact Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.