Prep girls soccer: Goalie keeps Wasilla's season alive

May 27, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - Most would venture to say it's pretty rare to see a player post the game-winning goal one day, and a shutout the next.

Rare maybe, but not impossible.

After scoring the final goal in a 3-2 shootout win over Kenai in the first round of the Northern Lights Conference tournament on Friday, Wasilla goalkeeper Dani Haley notched the shutout in a 1-0 win over Soldotna in the tournament's third-place game.

Haley's efforts in net helped the Warriors earn their second trip to the state tournament in the last three years.

&#8220Dani's been a key player this entire tournament,” Wasilla head coach Katie Broeder said. &#8220She had a fantastic shutout today.”

Britta Hanson scored the lone goal of the game, lifting a shot into the upper corner of the net in the ninth minute of play.

It was a big goal for Wasilla - the score that will send the Warriors to next week's state tournament - but Broeder said it was also a big goal for Hanson.

&#8220She's been a playmaker all season, but she hasn't put in a goal all year,” Broeder said. &#8220It's a big deal for her.”

In the ninth minute, Hanson got the ball just outside of the penalty box, made a slight turn toward the right and put a high shot toward the goal. The shot initially looked as if it might travel well over the net, but found its way into the upper corner.

&#8220It was perfectly placed,” Broeder said.

Led by the work of junior speedster Randi Smith, the Warriors were able to keep consistent pressure on the Soldonta net for much of the first period. But Soldotna used it's stacked front line to apply the pressure in the second.

The Stars used a formation with four forwards for much of the contest, something that Broeder said the Warriors had to adjust to.

Soldotna consistently fed forward Jordan Love on the right side of the field and midfielder Mavica McLane, but Haley and the Warrior defense were able to thwart Soldotna's hope of getting on the scoreboard.

Haley made several crucial saves during the 80-minute contest, and Warrior defender Tabor Tingstad made a possibly game-saving play in the first half.

In the 30th minute, following an indirect kick by McLane, a Soldotna shot pulled Haley to the left side of the net. But after the shot, the ball bounced loose and Soldotna's Lauren Senette put a hard shot on goal. Luckily for Wasilla, Tingstad was there to clear the ball for WHS.

Haley capped the Warriors' play in the NLC tourney with a shutout and state tournament berth, but ended her team's first game of the event with a game-winning goal in a shootout.

Broeder tabbed Haley as her ninth shooter of the penalty kick shootout.

&#8220At first I wanted to vomit,” Haley said as she laughed. &#8220But I knew I needed to get this done for our team.”

Nervous, Haley responded by knocking a ball into the upper right corner of the net.

&#8220Ironically enough the goalie beat the other goalie,” Broeder said.

Haley said her perspective as a keeper certainly helped her in the shootout.

&#8220I did have an advantage because I knew where she was going to go. I've studied her from my goal to her goal,” Haley said. &#8220I know where the goalie's going to jump. I know where most goalies dive. I know it's hard in the top corners and bottom corners for us to get.”

Homer 1, Wasilla 0

Homer forced Wasilla into the consolation round with a 1-0 defeat of the Warriors Friday evening at Wasilla High School.

Claire Siekaniec's goal in the 12th minute held up for the Mariners, who advanced into Saturday's final against Palmer with the win.

Wasilla 3, Kenai 2

Wasilla got its Northern Lights Conference soccer tournament off to an emotional start with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Kenai Central Friday morning at

Wasilla High School.

The Warriors won the game in a shootout when Wasilla goalie Dani Haley beat Kenai keeper Lacey Wortham in the ninth round of penalty kicks.

The dramatic finish came after the Warriors nearly blew a 2-0 lead, surrendering two Kenai goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Wasilla had dominated the game up until that point, getting a Rachel Kennedy goal in the 36th minute to go up 1-0 in the first half, then taking a 2-0 lead when Csesalie Lease converted a Randi Smith pass in the 48th minute.

But Kenai freshman Casey Coupchiak made things interesting when she chipped the ball over Haley with ten minutes left. Coupchiak then set up the tying goal by flicking a nifty pass over her head to Kyla Steward only seconds before the final whistle.

Following the game, Wasilla coach Katie Broeder praised her goalkeeper both for keeping Wasilla in the game with several good saves down the stretch, but for coming through in the clutch during the shootout.

&#8220She was definitely the hero of the day,” Broeder said.

Broeder said the win was especially sweet because it came against a Kenai team that had been one of the best in the NLC all season long and was looking to defend its NLC tournament title from a year ago.

&#8220They're an extremely dangerous team,” she said. &#8220It's good to get them out of here.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com. Reporter Matt Tunseth, contributed to this story.