Prep soccer: Eagles edge Warriors for third

June 3, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - At halftime, with their team facing a two-goal deficit, each member of the Wasilla coaching staff recalled the final game of their senior years.

&#8220That kind of stuck with us,” Wasilla senior Jordan Ingalls said.

The result was an inspired second half of play, but unfortunately for the Northern Lights Conference champion Warriors, West Anchorage was able to sneak away with a 2-1 win over Wasilla in the third-place match of the ASAA State Soccer Tournament at Anchorage Football

Stadium.

Luis Medrano and Paul Senner each scored in the first 23 minutes to propel West to a win over Wasilla in the third-place game for the second consecutive year.

Sophomore Tillerman Kroon posted Wasilla's lone goal.

Kroon's score, a goal in the 76th minute of play, was part of a valiant Wasilla effort in the second half that produced a myriad of opportunity on the offensive end.

&#8220We definitely had opportunities,” said Ingalls, who finished his senior season as the owner of Wasilla's single-season goal scoring record with 27. &#8220The bounces didn't go our way. We hit the crossbar three different times.”

Throughout the final 40 minutes, Wasilla consistently created quality chances.

Kroon put a ball right over the crossbar in the 42nd minute.

Junior Tylor Tingstad's strong left kick from 20 yards out produced a shot that flew a mere inches above the crossbar in the 49th minute.

Senior John Pahkala hit the post for the second time in the game in the 67th minute.

Senior Michael Maestes hit the crossbar with a shot in the 72nd minute. Senior David Kellner-Rode knocked the rebound toward the West net. But with goalkeeper Daniel Senner out of position, West sweeper Max Kublitz notched arguably a game-saving play, by using a header to clear the Kellner-Rode shot away from the Eagle goal.

Kroon finally converted with four minutes remaining, tapping in a ball sent from the midfield by senior Jeff Champion.

In the following minute, Ingalls pushed a shot just wide after colliding with the West goalie.

Regardless of the outcome, Wasilla coach Blake Livingston said he is proud of his team's tenacity.

&#8220I felt like they left everything on the field,” Livingston said. &#8220They can hold their heads high.”

Particularly apparent was the effort of a number of the members of Wasilla's 13-man senior class.

&#8220All of our seniors stepped up,” Livingston said.

Led by the likes of Ingalls and Aaron Bean up front, Pahkala and Kellner-Rode in the middle, and Champion and Maestes in the back, Wasilla was able to sustain a consistent attack in the second half.

The Warriors also saw the key play of senior reserves Josh Campbell, Joe Campbell and Vladimir Dahl.

Wasilla made adjustments in the game to utilize the skills of the seniors, moving Kellner-Rode to forward and Champion up into the middle. Kellner-Rode in particular was able to apply pressure on the West

net.

&#8220David was an animal out there,” Livingston said.

The Warriors were without the services of all-conference midfielder Jimmy Sliwa for most of the final two games of the tournament. After scoring twice in Wasilla's 4-0 quarterfinal win over Soldotna, Sliwa suffered an injury during the first five minutes of play during a 4-1 loss to South Anchorage in the state semifinals.

Wasilla made program history this season, winning its first conference championship. The Warriors also carried a 13-1-1 mark into the state tournament, and did not record a loss until their final game of the regular season.

&#8220This has been a special season. This is a group of guys who've accomplished a lot,” Livingston said. &#8220I'm just sorry to see it end.”

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