Mustangs edge Warrior girls in shootout

ANCHORAGE — Amid a consistent pouring rain against one of the top girls’ programs in the state, the Warriors were mere seconds from victory, but ultimately suffered a 3-2 shootout loss to the Chugiak Mustangs during the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank State Soccer Championships.

Chugiak’s Derya Kelter scored game-tying goals at the end of regulation and in overtime, and Hannah Brehmer notched the final score during a shootout to move the Mustangs into the semifinal round and send the Warriors backward.

Despite the loss, Wasilla head coach Amber Craig said she couldn’t be more proud of her team, as the Warriors — physically drained and emotionally exhausted — slowly walked off the turf.

“This is one of those losses I’ll take, “Wasilla’s first-year head coach said. “It’s the best game I’ve ever seen them play. Every girl that played out there today, I can easily say, that was the best I’ve ever seen them play.”

Led by All-Northern Lights Conference goalkeeper Sammy Becker, the Warriors stifled one of the more potent attacks in the state before Kelter was able to squeeze a ridiculous shot past Becker during the final seconds of stoppage play.

Kelter sent a shot at a hard angle from the left sideline up and over Becker into the upper corner of the far side of the net. Becker, perched at the near post, missed Kelter’s final stab of regulation, but steadily rejected everything Chugiak had to offer for more than 79 minutes of play.

“Sammy, today, was the best keeper in the state,” Craig said. “She was just amazing.”

Junior Rachel Kennedy knocked in a header set up by a Kendra Miner cross in the 71st minute to give the Warriors the late 1-0 lead.

Miner sent a nearly perfect pass from the left sideline and Kennedy crashed and followed with a header.

Sophomore Amy Jo Coonrod gave the Warriors the lead once again during the seventh minute of the first overtime. Senior Maija Kellner-Rode sent a ball into the box from her position on defense. Miner crashed the net and got tangled up with the Chugiak keeper, and as the ball bounced away from the goal, Coonrod was there to sent a short, but high, arcing shot into the net.

Late in that overtime frame, Kelter again stunned the Warriors with another game-tying score. This time Kelter broke away from the defense, and when Becker came out to challenge the WHS senior slid to the carpet. Kelter was able to bounce over Becker, and when the ball got away, she followed it into the net.

Craig applauded her team for not backing down after allowing the game-tying score late in a period, twice.

“Every single minute they played hard,” Craig said.

With the score tied 2-2, the teams played another 10-minute overtime and a pair of five-minute sudden death periods before the shootout.

Celaena Powder and Becca Newcomb each found the back of the net during the shootout. But three players, including Brehmer, were able to knock it in during the tiebreaker for Chugiak.

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