Mother, daughter embrace family soccer rivalry

WASILLA — After just 1 minute and 24 seconds Thursday, Colony head coach Lorie Miner found her Knights trailing 1-0, thanks to a goal scored by a player Miner is pretty familiar with — her daughter Kendra.

Playing in her first high school game against her mom — the longtime head coach of the CHS girls soccer program — Kendra Miner used her left foot to take the first step toward family bragging rights.

With her left foot, Kendra redirected a Rachel Kennedy pass to score the first goal in the first match of what could build to be one of the Valley’s most interesting soccer rivalries.

“When she scored on me …,” Lorie Miner said as she started to laugh. “I was disappointed in my (Colony) girls, but I was happy for Kendra. She has proven herself, and she’s come a long way.”

Kendra, a freshman who made her prep debut on Thursday, said her mom’s bittersweet moment was certainly sweet for her.

“It was nice,” Kendra said. “It felt good.”

Kendra said she has played on competitive youth soccer teams coached by her mom in the past, but Thursday marked the first team the Miner mother and daughter took the same field on opposite teams.

“It’s actually really fun,” Kendra said. “I’m glad to have my mom look at me and tell me what I need to do better as a player, but also have her say, ‘we’re going to kick your butt’.”

Even though it’s fresh and new, the Miner family rivalry, has already featured plenty of light teasing, both said.

“It’s different, but I’m glad,” Kendra said. “It’s good to have that tension, but the support at the same time.”

Kendra said she did consider attending Colony to have the chance to play for her mom.

“I wanted to, but I really love the coaches at Wasilla,” Kendra said. “I’m really happy at Wasilla.”

Plus, Kendra is continuing a family tradition. Lorie Miner graduated from Wasilla High in 1987, following in the path of her mom, another WHS alum.

Kendra also has a brother who is a junior at WHS.

Lorie Miner said it’s good to see her daughter out there on the field, even if she suits up for the opposing team.

“It’s great to see her out there playing,” Lorie Miner said. “She’s got so much potential, so much talent.

“Do I wish she was playing for me? No,” the CHS head coach added. “You have that friction. And then you’d have that — ‘Kendra’s playing because her mom is coaching.’ No, Kendra’s playing because she’s earned her spot there.”

After the final whistle blew on Thursday, both mother and daughter could claim bragging rights. Kendra scored the first goal of the game, but Lorie’s Knights used a goal in the final minute to edge Kendra’s Warriors 5-4.

But that’s just the first match in what could turn out to be a four-year family rivalry.

“It’s just going to get better and better each year,” Kendra Miner said.

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