KNIGHTS SWEEP: Longtime boys coach wins final game on grass at alma mater

PALMER — Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson always appreciates a win, especially one over a rival.

But the Knights’ 6-1 win over Palmer at Palmer High School on Tuesday was extra sweet for the longtime head coach.

Johnson led his team to victory in the final prep soccer game played on the grass of Machetanz Field. Artificial field turf will be installed in the coming week, and with his final walk of the natural grass on the Palmer High field, Johnson, a Palmer graduate and former Moose soccer standout, couldn’t help but feel a bit nostalgic.

“I played four years on this field,” Johnson said.

Johnson also can share a little piece of history with his mother, Sandi, who helped start the girls soccer program at Palmer High and coached the first soccer game played on Machetanz Field.

In addition to history, the Knights were also playing for a top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. With the win over the Moose, Colony improved to 3-0 in division play and clinched a No. 1 seed in the Northern Lights Conference Championships.

“There was a lot to play for today,” Johnson said.

Colony capitalized on early opportunities to grab a lead. The Knights took a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute when John Meaney converted a penalty kick for Colony. Six minutes later, Chris Olsen scored the first of his two goals.

“The last time we played them, we felt like we had a lot of opportunities, but didn’t finish,” Johnson said. “We really emphasized wanting to finish today.”

Jake Spannagel led the Knights with a hat trick in the win. Spannagel, who assisted on Olsen’s first goal, scored off a rebound in the 36th minute to give Colony the 3-0 lead.

Spannagel also scored twice within a six-minute span in the second half.

Olsen capped the Colony scoring in the second half with his second goal.

Brandon Wisner scored the lone goal for the Moose.

Colony also earned a 1-0 win over Grace Christian on Monday. Sean Colette scored for the Knights.

Colony girls edge Moose

PALMER — Heading into the 2012 season, the Colony Knights tweaked their overall philosophy, opting for more aggressive play on the offensive side.

Despite the change in mindset, goals have not come easy for the Knights. But during the second half Tuesday, head coach Lorie Miner saw what she has been looking for.

Colony scored a pair of second-half goals to earn a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Moose at Machetanz Field.

“We finally got into sync with one another, started playing with 11 on the field, not three on the field,” Miner said.

Ashley James used a long boot to tie the score at 1, and Ali Baker came up the right side and sent a hard strike into the far side of the net to provide the game-winner for the Knights.

James put a high arc on her shot, and the ball dipped right below the crossbar into the net for the Knights.

“We’ve been harping on them all to get some shots,” Miner said. “We need to work on taking shots outside the 18.”

While James and Baker helped provide the offense, a third-string goalkeeper stepped in to help the Knights earn the big win. With starting goalkeeper Jaeden Chew injured and a reserve ill, the Knights put freshman Alex Cameron in net.

“She stepped up big the last two games and had a great performance,” Miner said.

Miner also noted the work of her defensive back line, a unit led by Savannah Nash.

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