Moose boys soccer squad nets first win of season

April 24, 2005

JEREMIAH BARTZ/Frontiersman sports editor

ANCHORAGE - The Palmer Moose earned their first victory of the young soccer season with a 5-1 win over Grace Christian on the turf at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage on Thursday.

Rory Egelus scored a pair of goals to lead the Moose (1-2-0). Grace Christian (1-3-0), recognized as one of the top teams of the Northern Lights Conference in recent years, could only slip one goal past stingy Moose goalkeeper Trenton Berberich.

Palmer head coach Tom Harrison said Berberich was, "huge again," specifically citing a second-half save where he stopped a nearly certain Grace goal. The junior goalkeeper laid out to make a save and, rather than deflecting the ball and giving up a sure shot from the corner, Berberich did not allow the rebound.

Palmer led just 3-1 at the time, and Harrison said a Grizzly goal could have changed the momentum of the game.

Even though a Ben Beetch shot didn't reach the back of the net, Harrison praised the play of his junior striker.

"He didn't tally a goal, but (Ben) was part of the build up or had an assist on most of the goals," Harrison said.

Devon Conroy, Jason Hall and Peter Burton also scored for the Moose.

Palmer did get a scare in the second half as Conroy went down with an apparent knee injury. Harrison said Conroy is walking and he was held out of Friday's match against Skyview as a precaution, but should return to the lineup

soon.

In girls' action, Grace and Palmer (0-0-2) fought to a 0-0 tie.

Wasilla 3, Homer 1

The Wasilla Warriors earned a 3-1 win over the Homer Mariners and their second straight victory Thursday.

Jordan Ingalls scored twice and Robbie Champion notched a goal to lead Wasilla.

The Wasilla girls fell to Homer 2-0.