Knights start strong with pair of wins

ANCHORAGE — Mat-Su Valley prep soccer teams typically can’t wait to get outdoors. On Tuesday, the Colony Knights were thrilled to stay inside.

Junior James Meaney scored a pair of goals to lead the Knights to a 3-1 win over Grace Christian at The Dome in Anchorage on Tuesday.

“I thought we played fairly well,” Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said of his Knights during the season-opener. “We’re still adjusting, still getting used to playing on the big field.”

The Knights, like many local prep teams, have spent much of their preseason practice time on the small field of turf inside the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. The team has practiced on an outdoor field twice, Johnson said. In most years, Colony would have to wait to play an official game until a full slate of matches could be played outside. But this season, Colony has been able to schedule matches on the turf inside The Dome, the massive indoor sports complex in South Anchorage.

“It’s huge to finally get in there and play,” Johnson said.

Colony outshot the Grizzlies 15-1 during the victory and posted all three of its goals during the first 15 minutes of play.

Brothers John and James Meaney connected to give the Knights the early lead. John, a sophomore, sent a quick pass inside the box to James, who fired a shot into the Grace net. Meaney scored his second goal of the game, when he knocked in a shot off a Logan Smith throw-in.

Colony took a 3-0 lead when captain Oliver Querin set up Hunter Fisher, who ripped a shot into the net from the 18-yard line.

The Grizzlies capitalized on their lone official shot of the match, a penalty kick in the second half.

Eilliot Gilbert and Jessie Krey combined for the win in the Colony net.

James Meaney appeared to have scored his third goal of the game with about 10 minutes left in regulation. Colony chipped a long pass into the box, Meaney settled the ball and fired it into the upper corner of the net. Field referees called the shot a goal, but before play resumed, Meaney admitted to the referee he had touched the ball with his hand as he attempted to settle the ball.

“He did the sporting thing,” Johnson said.

Knights blank Nikiski

The Colony Knights improved to 2-0 with a 10-0 win over Nikiski at The Dome in Anchorage on Thursday afternoon.

James Meaney and Oliver Querin each posted four points during the lopsided victory. Meaney led the Knights with three goals and an assist, while Querin was the playmaker with three assists and a goal.

Jonas Madsen posted two goals and an assist for Colony, while Dylan Crawford added a goal and an assist. Jesse Rouse scored for CHS, and Deven Pfister also grabbed an assist during his first varsity game.

Logan Smith was credited with one assist, but Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said Smith helped create at least three or four goals with his throw-ins.

Colony goalie Jessie Krey earned the shutout.

Matches canceled

Service High School reshuffled its soccer schedules and canceled a pair of matches with Colony. The CHS girls’ match against the Cougars on Wednesday and the boys’ game against Service on Thursday were both cut.

The Colony teams will meet rival Wasilla at The Dome on Tuesday. The WHS and CHS girls meet at 11 a.m., while the boys face off at 1 p.m.

Palmer and Wasilla will take the turf at The Dome next Friday, with girls action at 11 a.m. and boys action at 1 p.m.

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