NLC soccer tourney: 3 Valley teams win, 3 lose on first day

WASILLA — In a match that appeared destined for overtime, the final minute proved to be sudden death for the Homer Mariners.

Colony scored in the 80th minute to post a 1-0 win over the Mariners during the Northern Lights Conference Championships boys’ quarterfinals Thursday afternoon at Soldotna High School.

Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said there was just about enough time to pull the ball out of the net and set it at the half line before the final whistle sounded.

Alex Valdez recorded the game-winner for the Knights, who move forward to face Soldotna Friday at 1 p.m. in the semifinals. The Valdez goal was set up by a direct kick that sent the ball into the box. With the ball bouncing in the box, Colony’s Noah Krozel got a head on it, Johnson said, and Valdez was able to knock the loose ball in.

The Colony goal came on the heels of nearly 80 minutes worth of trying to play through Homer’s stacked back end.

“That’s what Homer does. They pack everybody in back and try to counter to the one good kid up top,” Johnson said by cellphone from Soldotna Thursday evening.

Colony held Homer to only three shots in the game.

“We controlled the whole game,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the Knights were frustrated, but even when things weren’t going their way, Johnson said his players continued to work.

“The kids put in all the effort. The effort was there,” Johnson said.

Colony girls cruise

While the Homer boys tried to handcuff Colony, the Knights girls were free to fire the ball at will on the Homer net.

Colony finished with 25 shots during a 6-0 girls’ soccer quarterfinal win over the Mariners Thursday at Kenai Central.

Sahara Iverson scored a pair of goals to help Colony move into the semifinals where the Knights will face Kenai Friday at 3 p.m. at Kenai.

Emily Link, Gabby Wakaliuk, Natalie Nordland and Rina Inagaki also scored for Colony. Knights goalkeeper Maddy Zmuda earned the eight-save shutout.

Wasilla girls coast

The Wasilla girls coasted into the semifinals with an 8-0 victory over Nikiski in the NLC quarterfinals Thursday in Soldotna.

Alexis Friesen, Jodie Richey and Alia Donley scored two goals each. Abby Crawford and Caitlin Bales added goals for the Warriors. Daija Doughty led the Warriors with three assists. Merit Paramo added two assists.

Olivia Matson and Aleks Kvalheim split time in the Wasilla net.

Kodiak shocks Wasilla boys

Kodiak made program history with a 3-2 shootout win over Wasilla during the NLC boys’ quarterfinals Thursday at Wasilla High.

Wasilla led 2-0 in the match, but the Bears scored twice to force extra time before winning in a shootout.

Ryan Polis scored both goals for Wasilla.

Palmer girls, boys fall

Both Palmer teams were eliminated during the NLC quarterfinals Thursday.

Host Kenai topped the Moose 4-0 in the girls’ bracket. Soldotna beat the Palmer boys 6-1.

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