New strategy key in Wasilla boys' soccer win over Palmer

PALMER — Heading into the most important stretch of the regular season, with matches against rivals Palmer and Colony, Wasilla head coach Danny Kilanowski felt it was time to tweak the game plan.

Ryan Polis had been playing well on the defensive side of the field, but Kilanowski wanted to see what Polis could do to help Wasilla’s offensive attack.

The plan paid off.

Polis scored a pair of goals to help Wasilla earn a 4-1 win over Palmer Wednesday at Palmer High School.

“We’re not getting a lot of goals lately, so this gives us an option to turn it around,” Kilanowski said after the win. “Ryan’s been playing in defense, but he’s very skilled. I thought, let’s try him up front and see if he adds to the attack, which he did.”

Kilanowski moved Polis forward prior to the game.

“We normally have four across the back. We decided to go with three and play an extra striker, and that played to our advantage,” Kilanowski said.

Kilanowski said it’s not a permanent switch, but it’s an option the Warriors now have in their arsenal.

“Game by game,” Kilanowski said. “It’s really looking at who we’re playing against.”

This look gives opposing teams something else to think about, Kilanowksi said.

“We’ve had the tendency in the past to sit back and be a little more conservative in our manner,” Kilanowski said.

Kilanowski pointed to a recent loss to East Anchorage.

“We had a lot of the game, but couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net. We ended up losing 1-0,” Kilanowski said. “Sometimes you’ve got to take a risk, take a chance, go for it and see how it unfolds. It worked for us tonight.

Wasilla captain Kyle Broach also scored twice for Warriors, who will face Colony Friday night in a battle that will determine the No. 1 seed from the North Division in the upcoming Northern Lights Conference Championships, which start May 19 in Kenai.

“They know we’re getting into the business end of the season,” Kilanowski said.

Broach gave the Warriors an early lead during the 12th minute. Broach won a battle about 30 yards out, and booted a high kick just underneath the cross bar. Broach added to his team’s lead during the 28th minute, knocking in a header off a long Drew Burns throw-in.

Polis used his speed to push Wasilla’s lead to three late in the first half. During the 32nd minute, Polis broke past the defense, into the box and fired a shot into the Palmer net. Polis added a second-half goal for the Warriors.

Blake Cooper scored the lone goal for the Moose.

Wasilla hosts Colony Friday at 7 p.m. at Wasilla High. Palmer caps its regular season against Colony Saturday at 4 p.m. at PHS.

Wasilla girls run past Palmer

Jodie Richey used a four-point night to help Wasilla score a 9-0 girls’ soccer win over Palmer Wednesday at Palmer High.

Richey recorded a hat trick, and added an assist during the win. Alia Donley added two goals. Ally Hull, Phoebe Christiansen and Caitlin Bales chipped in a goal each.

Wasilla will host Colony Friday at 5 p.m. Palmer plays at Colony Saturday at 2.

Colony boys blank Grace

Colony scored a 3-0 boys’ soccer win over Grace Christian School Monday.

Ben Sande scored twice for the Knights. Noah Krozel also scored. Chance Fannon posted a four-save shutout.

Knights edge Grace girls

Peyton Johnstone scored a pair of goals to lead Colony to a 2-1 girls' soccer win over Grace Christian Monday.

Colony outshot Grace 18-6 in the win.

Colony also grabbed a 4-0 nonconference win over Bartlett Thursday.

Johnstone scored twice. Hailey Valdez and Rina Inagaki also scored for CHS.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.