Lynx need shootout to get past Colony in boys soccer state title game

ANCHORAGE — Jeremy Johnson and the Colony Knights expected a close match with Dimond in the state final. It turned out to be as close as it can get.

After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, Dimond edged Colony 5-4 in penalty kicks to score a shootout win over the Knights in the ASAA/First National Bank State Soccer Championships Division I boys’ title game Saturday night at Service High School in Anchorage.

“It was an even match, unfortunately we didn’t come out on top with the (penalty kicks),” Johnson, Colony’s longtime head coach, said after the loss.

Dimond’s Niko Latva-Kiskola found a spot in the lower left corner of the net in the shootout to give the Lynx the walk-off win. The juniors effort came after three Colony misses and two Dimond misses with the shootout tied at 4.

Colony converted its first three attempts in the shootout. Junior Noah Krozel drilled a shot high into the net. Junior Kyle Dearborn went to the right side. Senior Cade Johnstone blasted a shot into the center of the net.

Dimond converted consecutive penalty kicks to tie it at 4.

The shootout came after 80 minutes of scoreless regulation, a pair of 10-minute overtime periods and two five-minute sudden-death frames. Johnson said he had a feeling the match was destined for a shootout.

“As the game progressed, absolutely,” Johnson said.

Johnson said it was a match dictated by a pair of strong defenses.

“We knew they had a really strong defense and goalkeeper, and a good attack,” Johnson said. “I felt we did a great job on the defensive end, and they did a great job on the defensive end.”

Johnson said each defense prevented the opponent capitalizing on the best opportunities.

“It was a defensive battle,” Johnson said.

The match marked Colony’s fifth trip to a state title game since 2000. The Knights won it all in 2000 and 2014.

Johnson praised his team and his seven seniors.

“Great team, great group of seniors,” Johnson said.

One of Colony’s senior leaders, Martin Jones, also had high praise for his head coach.

“He loves us, we love him,” Jones said.

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