Moose net sweep of Nikiski

ANCHORAGE — Palmer head coach Harmony Chadwick had a feeling some of her younger players could provide a spark. But they may have surprised her on Monday.

Freshman Jordan Brooke netted the hat trick and sophomore Miracle Burton added a goal to lead the Moose to a 5-0 win over the Nikiski Bulldogs at The Dome in Anchorage.

“I knew they were pretty good,” Chadwick said of the young talent.

Brooke, one of four freshmen starting for the Moose, scored the three goals to help Palmer earn a win in its season-opener. Senior Kendal Venzke also scored.

“I’m super happy with our first game,” Chadwick said. “I think we meshed really well.”

Chadwick credited her midfielders with the ability to get the ball up the field to Brooke.

“The midfield did a great job and Jordan was able to finish,” Chadwick said. “It was fantastic. We didn’t have any finishers last year.”

Brooke scored a pair of first-half goals to help the Moose grab the early lead. Brooke, Burton and Venzke scored in the second half.

Chadwick praised Venzke for her all-around game and great individual effort that led to the goal. Playing defense, Venzke drove the ball up the turf and sent a ball right over the head of the Nikiski goalkeeper.

Freshman Kat Godden earned the shutout in the Palmer net as she made her first career start.

The Palmer boys also used a hat trick to score a victory.

Junior Aube Strickland scored three times to lead the Moose to a 4-2 win over Nikiski at The Dome. Strickland also set up Palmer’s fourth goal.

“Aube’s been a real great shooter for us,” Palmer head coach Kevin Dearborn said. “But he was young and didn’t have the size. He’s a junior this year and getting bigger and more confident. He’s got a wicked shot that’s just nasty.”

Strickland helped the Moose rally from an early 1-0 deficit. During the final 10 minutes of the first half, Strickland scored a pair of goals to give the Moose the 2-1 lead.

He completed the hat trick with a left-footed crack that went off the inside of the post. Strickland assisted on another goal. After Strickland fired a shot, Jesse Dahms came in to knock in the rebound.

Dearborn praised the play of captain Daniel Burton in the win.

“He’s definitely my most skilled player,” Dearborn said. “He helped us big time.”

Dearborn used a trio of new goalkeepers during the game. Junior Thomas Morino and freshmen Chandler Jones and Josh Banks all saw equal playing time during the win.

The Palmer boys and girls return to the turf to play Colony Thursday at The Dome in Anchorage.