Moose boys, girls eager to hit soccer field

PALMER — After spending a number of years on the Colony sideline, Harmony Chadwick has returned home.

Chadwick, a Palmer High School graduate and former Moose soccer player, is back with her alma mater as head coach of the Palmer girls’ soccer squad.

“I absolutely love it,” Chadwick, a 1992 Palmer graduate, said last week.

Chadwick, a longtime assistant with the Knights girls’ soccer squad, said she loved her time with Colony, but part of her has always felt true to the blue. Now the first-year head coach is busy acclimating herself with talent she’s only coached against. What she sees is a balanced group led by a strong senior nucleus.

“We’re pretty level throughout,” Chadwick said. “Our midfield is pretty strong.”

Leading the Moose are seniors Shawna Thein and Sierra Shelton. Palmer also returns senior Lanycha Zimmer and senior goalkeeper Chealse Riley. Chadwick said Kendal Venzke and Megan Stark are among the top juniors on the squad.

Chadwick is also excited about a few new players on her squad. Morgan Morfe, a Palmer volleyball player, has joined the team to add depth to the goalkeeper position.

“It’s awesome she decided to come out,” Chadwick said. “She’s doing phenomenal.”

Freshman Miracle Burton could also make an early impact in the midfield, Chadwick said.

Chadwick said the Palmer girls are eager to hit the field. The Moose make their season debut Tuesday against Wasilla at The Dome in Anchorage.

Like the girls, the Palmer boys are more than ready to start the season.

“We’re chomping at the bit to get out there,” Palmer boys head coach Kevin Dearborn said of his squad, which also makes it’s season debut Tuesday against Wasilla.

Dearborn said the Moose have done their best to remain focused through five weeks of preseason practice. Palmer has spent a chunk of that time working to fill the biggest void left by graduation, the holes on defense. Captain Phil Jansen and Donovan Hard, a first-team All-Northern Lights Conference selection, are among the lost.

Dearborn could insert younger players, such as Kaden Weaver, or newcomers like senior Kyle Titus, a Palmer basketball standout who decided to join the soccer team during his final spring at PHS. Palmer also has Jesse Milbret, who is back after a year away from the program.

While there are some questions on defense, Dearborn knows Palmer will be strong in the midfield. That’s where he’ll have senior standout Zach Zegzdryn and junior Daniel Burton.

Senior Duney Strickland is back at outside midfield, and the Moose also have Ryan Conroy, who returns after spending last year on exchange in Switzerland.

Dearborn feels he has a few skilled players up front with Aube Strickland and Piers LaFrance. Sophomore Brandon Wolsterman returns as Palmer’s starting goalkeeper.

Palmer’s wild card could be senior Brennan Bohaman, a lightning-quick athlete who can burn teams on both sides of the field. Dearborn said Bohman could be utilized in a number of places.

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