Prep girls soccer: Moose end Wasilla's season

June 1, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - Stellar goalkeeping by Chelsea Beetch and a timely goal from Tess Anderson propelled the Palmer Moose into Saturday's consolation final in the ASAA State Soccer Championships Thursday in Anchorage.

Beetch was responsible for shutting down a late Wasilla surge to preserve a 1-0 victory for the Moose.

&#8220Our keeper did a really nice job,” Anderson said following the win.

Beetch's finest moment came with less than two minutes left when Wasilla striker Rachel Kennedy broke free of the Palmer defense and found herself alone against the junior goalie. Beetch came off her line and made a stellar block on Kennedy's shot to stymie the Warriors' best chance of the morning.

Wasilla coach Katie Broeder said the difference in the contest was the play of Beetch late in the game.

&#8220She had an awesome game,” Broeder said. &#8220She was right there every time.”

The game between the two Valley rivals got off to a slow start at Anchorage Football Stadium, with both teams appearing to be fighting to get the sleep out of their eyes for the 10 a.m. start following evening games Thursday.

Palmer coach Brian Fish said the back-to-back games may have taken their toll early in Friday's contest.

&#8220Both teams played some tough games last night,” Fish said.

Both teams had legitimate scoring opportunities in the opening 15 minutes, with Anderson getting a shot on Wasilla keeper Dani Haley in the 10th and Kennedy challenging Beetch in the 12th.

Both keepers were up to the task, coming up with clean saves.

Anderson broke the deadlock in the 17th when she took the pass from Shawna Thein and knifed her was though the Wasilla defense. The speedy sophomore forward's finish from just inside the 18-yard-line was true, avoiding the sprawling Haley and finding the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Minutes before the game began, Fish pleaded with his side to get an early lead against Wasilla, something the Moose had struggled with at times this season. Anderson said the message definitely sunk in.

&#8220We never get that first goal,” she said. &#8220It was important.”

Palmer looked confident with the lead, and used a steadily-improving back line to limit Wasilla scoring opportunities for the rest of the half. Particularly effective defensively were underclassmen Julie Mangelsdorf, a sophomore, and freshman Shea Riggs.

&#8220I was really happy with our defense,” Fish said.

Mangelsdorf and Riggs led a Palmer defense that consistently limited chances for Wasilla with sure-footed tackling and confident clearances. Combined with Beetch, the Moose looked impenetrable at times, eating up the clock by keeping play confined mainly to the midfield.

The second half saw more of the same, with Wasilla needing nearly 15 minutes to get a shot on goal. Palmer looked to be in firm command of the game until Broeder began moving players forward in the final 10 minutes. Led mainly by Kennedy up front and seniors Britta Hansen and Randi Smith in the middle, Wasilla created a number of shots, including a header that banged off the post in the 76th minute.

&#8220We pushed a lot of people forward and got lots of chances,” Broeder said.

But Palmer held firm, ending the Wasilla season and ensuring the Moose one more game.

Adding to the thrill of victory, Tess Anderson said, was the fact that it came against Wasilla, Palmer's biggest rival.

&#8220That meant a lot,” she said.

Conversely, Broeder said having her team's season end to Palmer was a bitter pill to swallow.

&#8220It is tough when its against a Valley rival,” she said.

Adding to the Wasilla heartbreak is the fact that the Warriors will lose six seniors to graduation. Broeder said that's the toughest thing for her, personally, since she began her coaching career when this year's seniors were in ninth grade.

&#8220I'm going to miss those seniors,” she said. &#8220They're tough for me to lose.”

Despite the tough end to the season, Broeder said she was proud of the way her team finished the year by advancing to the state tournament.

&#8220I think we had a season of ups and downs, but we definitely progressed at the end,” she said.

As the last Mat-Su girls team still alive, Palmer has one game left to cap a season that's seen the Moose advance to the Northern Lights Conference final and the fourth-place game at state for the second consecutive year.

&#8220There's still a lot to play for,” Brian Fish said.

Palmer will play the winner for Friday's Homer vs. Lathrop contest at 8 a.m. Saturday at AFS.