Knights settle for tie after quick start

PALMER — The Colony Knights had 27 practices before their first game, but it only took 2 minutes and 30 seconds to score their first goal.

Colony recorded a pair of scores within the first five minutes and played to a 2-2 tie against the Wasilla Warriors at Colony High School on Monday.

“Twenty seven practices to date and no games,” Colony head coach Lorie Miner said Monday. “It’s very frustrating.”

The frustrated Knights, eager to get on the field, jumped to the early two-goal advantage when junior Jessica Farrell and sophomore Jamie Krediet each scored within a three-minute span.

Farrell’s goal was set up by a corner kick and a Krediet assist. Krediet pushed a shot just over the fingertips of Wasilla senior goalkeeper Sammy Becker.

“They were good solid goals,” Wasilla head coach Amber Craig said. “They came out nice and quick.”

Miner credited an overall desire to get on to the field with the fast start, rather than simply catching the Warriors off guard. But the longtime Colony head coach did admit the Knights slowed down after taking the quick lead.

Wasilla senior Alex Firestack scored in the 28th minute to cut Colony’s lead to a single goal. Sophomore Ashlynn Frizzelle grabbed an assist on the play.

Sophomore Kendra Miner, off an assist from senior Maija Kellner-Rode, tied the score for the Warriors seven minutes into the second half.

“It took us 15-20 minutes to recover from those first two (Colony) goals,” Craig said. “Once we did, I’d say we had a lot more goal scoring opportunities than they did.”

Miner was also pleased with her team’s chances.

“We had several good opportunities,” Miner said. “They’re goalie (Sammy Becker) was showing her ‘A’ game.”

The match marked the first prep game of the season to be played on Valley grass. Wasilla beat Palmer 3-1 on Friday at The Dome in Anchorage. Colony hadn’t played a game before Monday.

The game was also a late addition to the schedule.

“We both had an opening so we threw a game in there,” Miner said. “We needed to put them in a game situation.”

Colony will hit the Anchorage turf Wednesday for a nonconference game against East, and returns to the Valley to host Skyview on Friday and Nikiski on Saturday.

Wasilla hosts Nikiski on Friday.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.