Prep girls soccer: Warriors make history with win over Palmer

WASILLA — On Monday night the Wasilla Warriors did something no other Wasilla High School girls soccer squad has ever done — beat Palmer.

“We’ve never beat them — ever,” Wasilla head coach Katie Broeder said after the Warriors’ 3-0 win at Veterans Memorial Field. “We keep making history.”

The victory over Palmer continues Wasilla’s knack for grabbing victories of at least somewhat historic proportions this season. Earlier in the year, the Warriors notched a win over Grace Christian for the first time in Broeder’s five years as head coach. Wasilla also beat Homer for the first time in three years this season.

Three underclassman scored to help WHS earn the win over PHS, and snap a three-game losing skid.

Sophomore Rachel Kennedy, freshman Amy Jo Coonrod and freshman Lina Shadrach each found the back of the Moose net in the first half.

Kennedy took a pass from sophomore Krizia Verplancke in the 12th minute and scored to give Wasilla the early one-goal lead.

Coonrod knocked in a ball off a Randi Smith corner kick in the 26th minute to give the Warriors the two-goal advantage.

Smith, Wasilla’s senior captain, assisted on the final two goals of the game. In the final minute of the first half, Smith set up a Shadrach goal that was also assisted by the windy conditions at Veterans Memorial.

With the final seconds ticking off the first-half clock, Shadrach let go of a kick at about the 40-yard line that carried in the wind and took a funny bounce over the head of Palmer goalkeeper Chelsea Beetch.

Broeder said thanks to her team’s intensity level, the Warriors were able to keep pressure on Beetch and the Palmer goal in the first half.

“We didn’t come out timid,” Broeder said. “We came out wanting to win.”

While Palmer was able to keep the ball in its offensive end for much of the second half, Broeder said her defense did a good job of limiting Palmer’s scoring chances.

Palmer edged the Warriors 3-1 last week at Palmer High School, but that contest was considered a nonconfernece game. Wasilla’s win on Monday will count in the official Northern Lights Conference standings.

Wasilla continues NLC play against Houston today at Wasilla High School at 4 p.m.

On Wednesday the Warriors travel to Colony to face the Knights at 6 p.m.

Palmer hosts Houston Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Wasilla boys 1, Palmer 0

WASILLA — Wasilla sophomore Matthew Friese scored the lone goal to give the Warriors a 1-0 win over Palmer Monday at Veterans Memorial Field.

The victory marked Wasilla’s second win over the Moose in a week. Wasilla beat PHS 2-0 last week at Palmer High.

Contact sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.