Knights rebound to beat Palmer

ANCHORAGE — Wednesday was a rough one for the Colony Knights.

Colony lost starting goalkeeper Jaden Chew to injury after the freshman was hurt during a collision with a Wasilla player. And to add insult to injury, after a long stoppage to tend to the player, referees called the match final with about 15 minutes to go and Colony trailing 1-0 to Wasilla.

But on Thursday, things went a bit better for the Knights.

Freshman Carolyn Cox scored twice to lead Colony to a 5-0 nonconference win over rival Palmer at The Dome in Anchorage.

“We were patient as a team, we didn’t feel like we were rushed,” Colony head coach Lorie Miner said. “(Wednesday), I felt like we were in a panic.”

Kataya Jenks, Arianna Saxon and Brittany Anderson also scored to help the Knights earn the win and improved to 2-1-0. Meghan Riopelle and Sierra Copeland combined to earn the shutout in the Knights net.

While the Knights struggled against the Warriors on Wednesday, Miner said her squad did a number of things well on Thursday.

“We won the 50-50 balls,” Miner said. “We made the connecting passes.”

The Colony coach also praised the work of her goalies. Riopelle earned the start and made nine saves, while seeing the majority of playing time. In 10 minutes of work, Copeland made a pair of saves.

Wasilla 1, Colony 0

ANCHORAGE — The Wasilla Warriors edged rival Colony in a game called by referees with about 15 minutes left in regulation, Wednesday at The Dome in Anchorage.

Senior Kendra Miner converted a direct free kick from about 25 yards out to notch the lone goal of the game and help the Warriors earn the nonconfernece victory.

Play was stopped late in the match when a Wasilla player collided with Chew.

“From what I could see it was a fair play,” Wasilla head coach Amber Craig said. “Both were going at full speed, both were being very aggressive.”

Craig said play was stopped for a long stretch of time as medical officials tended to the injured player. Once Chew was off the field, referees told Craig the game would be suspended because too much time was taken during the stoppage.

Colony head coach Lorie Miner wanted to make sure her young goalie was tended to properly, but was frustrated by the decision to call the game.

Miner said referees were said to be on a very strict time schedule, but the turf at The Dome was reserved for a four-hour block

“We should have been able to resume,” Miner said.

Kendra Miner scored during the 18th minute of the first half to give the Warriors the lead. Craig said Wasilla goalkeeper Kamarae Kaina came through with some “fantastic saves.” Craig also praised the play of sweeper Erin Murray.

“It’s a new spot for her, but she did an awesome job,” Craig said. “She would definitely be our player of the game.”

Miner said Chew has a neck injury and will be evaluated again soon.

Boys soccer

Colony 7, Palmer 1

ANCHORAGE — Leo Jaschek scored a pair of goals and Matt Kelly collected a goal and three assists to lead Colony to a 7-1 win over the Palmer Moose Thursday at The Dome in Anchorage.

Kelly factored in Colony’s first three goals to help the Knights improve to 3-0-1 overall. During the eighth minute, Kelly set up an Avery Smith score. Kelly gave the Knights the 2-0 lead with a goal assisted by Colony goalkeeper James Meaney.

During the 23rd minute, Meaney settled the ball with his feet and sent a kick about 50 yards down the right sideline. Kelly picked up the ball, and sent a quick shot into the back of the Palmer net.

Hunter Fisher, Grant Krueger and John Meaney also scored for the Knights.

Senior Piers LaFrance scored the lone goal for Palmer.

Jaschek scored his first goal of the game during the 27th minute to push Colony’s lead to 3-0. Palmer was able to answer seven minutes later with the LaFrance score. But the Knights used four unanswered goals to seal the win.

Fisher, on an assist from Smith, scored during the 49th minute. Krueger put a header into the net in the 65th minute. John Meaney knocked a cross from Kelly into the net in the 71st. Jaschek capped the scoring in the 77th, with a goal assisted by Tanner Menard.

Colony 4, Wasilla 0

ANCHORAGE — For 20 minutes, Wasilla dominated play. But Colony rebounded to score four times and earn the 4-0 victory over the Warriors at The Dome in Anchorage on Wednesday.

Avery Smith scored twice, and Logan Basner and Hunter Fisher also scored goals for the Knights.

Before Smith scored during the 38th minute to give the Knights the lead, Wasilla had a number of opportunities early.

Wasilla had a direct kick from just inside the penalty box and another from just outside of the arc on the box.

Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said goalkeeper James Meaney came through with big saves during that early stretch to help the Knights.

“He stood out,” Johnson said of Meaney. “He really controlled the box well.”

Matt Kelly used a cross to set up the Smith goal with two minutes left in the first half. Early in the second, Basner, parked at the far post, headed in a John Meaney corner from the left side to give the Knights the 2-0 lead.

In the 74th minute, Kelly sent a ball up the field, and Fisher finished to give the Knights the three-goal lead. Smith capped the scoring with help from freshman Chris Olsen during the final minute

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