Palmer boys use overtime thriller to earn spot in Division II state soccer title match

The Palmer Moose are headed to a state soccer championship game for the first time in decades.

Third-seeded Palmer used penalty kicks in the tiebreaker to edge second-ranked Ketchikan 4-3 during the Division II boys semifinals of the ASAA/First National Bank State Soccer Championships Friday afternoon at Colony High School.

With the win, the Moose moved forward to face top-ranked Soldotna Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Wasilla High School. Palmer will play for a soccer state title for the first time since finishing as the runner-up in 1997. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of Palmer’s first and only state soccer title in 1995.

Palmer converted all five penalty kicks in the tiebreaker following the overtime periods. Parker Johnson, Cole Miller, Elijah Von Gunten, Finn Adams and Kaleb Von Gunten each found the back of the net,

Palmer and Ketchikan were locked at 3-3 after sudden death overtime. Elijah Von Gunten scored in the second overtime to give the Moose a 3-2 lead, but the Kings tied the game late in that frame. Bodie Miller scored an earlier overtime goal.

Ketchikan took a 1-0 lead in the match. Owen Lance scored for the Moose during regulation to tie the match at 1.

Kellen Kineen earned the win for the Moose in the Palmer net.

Four Valley teams competed in the Division I and Division II semifinals, but the Mat-Su was 0-3 in the DI semis.

Fifth-seeded West Valley stunned top-seeded Colony 2-1 in the Division I boys semifinals. Ebrahim Shihadeh scored in double-overtime to provide the game-winner for the Wolfpack. The Knights, the 2023 state champs and 2024 runners-up, will play conference rival Juneau-Douglas Saturday at 1:15 p.m. at Colony High in the third-place match. Owen Dietz scored the Colony goal.

Wasilla and Colony both suffered losses in the Division I girls semifinals. Undefeated South Anchorage, the No. 2 seed, got past third-seeded Wasilla 3-0. Top-ranked and defending state champion Dimond edged fifth-seeded Colony 1-0.

The Warriors and Knights will play for the third time this season in the third-place game Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Colony.

Wasilla earned another day in the Division I boys tourney with a 3-1 win over seventh-seeded Service. The No. 6 Warriors play eighth-seeded South Anchorage Saturday at 1:15 p.m. at Palmer High in the fourth-place game.

Palmer stayed alive in the Division II girls tournament with a 1-0 win over seventh-seeded Ketchikan in the consolation semifinals. Lila Pettit scored Palmer’s goal. Charlotte Marciales earned the shutout.

The Houston boys and Redington girls were both eliminated in the Division II consolation semifinals. Houston beat Homer 4-2. Grace Christian scored a 6-2 victory over Redington.

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