Prep hockey: Kards edge WHS

Dec. 10, 2006

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - A furious Wasilla rally came up just short Friday night against the Kenai Central Kardinals in a battle of two of the top hockey teams in the North Star Conference.

Down 4-3 late in the game, Wasilla could not get the equalizer despite spending the final 2 minutes and 28 seconds of the game on the power play. It wasn't for a lack of trying, as the Warriors peppered Kenai goaltender Lauren Baldwin with a flurry of shots and rebounds in the final seconds.

&#8220It was tough, they had me screened on pretty much every shot,” said Baldwin, who turned back 32 of the 35 shots she faced.

At one point during the last-second madness, Wasilla actually had a 6-on-3 advantage, with two Kenai players in the penalty box and Warrior goalie Jake Dargis on the bench.

Following the game, Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdevant said he felt like his squad let one slip away against their guests from the Peninsula.

&#8220I think they got away with one tonight,” Sturdevant said.

Sturdevant said careless turnovers by his team were the difference on a night that saw Wasilla dominate the statistic sheet, out-shooting Kenai 35-22. Kenai was also whistled for 18 penalty minutes more than Wasilla.

&#8220We can't make mistakes like that,” he said.

Wasilla was also unable to hold a lead. After an extended possession in the Kenai end, Joe Barkley netted the first goal of the contest for Wasilla when he lifted the puck over Baldwin's shoulder to put his team up 1-0. Herbie Mansavage and Dane Wilson assisted on the play.

Kenai's Brad Fusaro tied the game later in the period after Jed McGlasson stole the puck at center ice with Kenai on the power play, and skated through the Wasilla defense. Dargis was able to contain McGlasson's shot, as well as the first couple Kenai rebound attempts, but Fusaro was eventually able to stuff the puck into the net for the tying goal.

McGlasson put Kenai ahead with just 6.3 seconds remaining in the period when he converted a perfect feed from Owen Dukowitz from behind the net. Also picking up an assist on the play was Justin Gabriel.

Wasilla again took the lead in the second period, off of goals by forwards Adam Friese and Harvey Finch. Finch and Matthew Friese assisted on the Adam Friese goal, while Adam Friese and defenseman Carl Brent assisted on the Finch tally. Wasilla's forwards dominated the run of play for much of the second period, helping the Warriors rack up 13-to-7 advantage on the shot sheet.

&#8220I think our guys, especially that first line, showed they can really control the game,” Sturdevant said.

Kenai was again able to even the score, getting a breakaway goal from McGlasson to tie things up at 3-3 after two periods.

Following the game, Kenai head coach Nate Kiel acknowledged that Wasilla gave his squad its toughest conference game so far this season, and said his players may have taken the Warriors lightly coming into the contest.

&#8220Wasilla was definitely better than the team had heard,” Kiel said. &#8220They thought that because Wasilla had lost to Palmer they could come in and win easily. They found out otherwise.”

Kenai went ahead for good with 6:53 left in the game when Dukowitz scored on a play set up by yet another breakaway by McGlasson. The speedy Kenai forward held the puck deep in the Warrior end until the last second before dumping to Dukowitz for the game-winner.

The loss is Wasilla's first in conference play this year. Kenai remained unbeaten.

The two teams will face each other again in the regular season when Wasilla travels to the Peninsula for a series of games against Kenai, Soldotna and Homer in January.

Sturdevant said he's certain his team will be ready for the next game in the series. After having dropped a game his team felt it should have won, he said the Warriors are hungry for a rematch with the Kards.

&#8220I think right now everybody in the locker room is looking forward to that one,” he said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 373-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com