Prep soccer: Newcomer leads Colony boys to win

ANCHORAGE — A newcomer has quickly found his place within the Colony boys soccer program.

Junior Jake Spannagel scored four goals to lead the Knights to a 5-0 nonconference win over Nikiski Friday morning at The Dome in Anchorage.

“He was making good runs into the box, creating space,” Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said of Spannagel. “He really struck the ball well.”

Spannagel did all of his scoring during the first half, finding the back of the net during the sixth, ninth, 31st and 33rd minutes.

Sean Colette also scored for the Knights.

“We were able to control the play pretty early,” Johnson said.

Colette, Lucas Hickle and Leo Jaschek grabbed assists on Spannagel’s goals. Hickle helped set up Colony’s first goal during the sixth minute. Jaschek assisted on the Spannagel score that pushed Colony’s lead to 2-0. Colette recorded an assist on Colony’s third goal.

Spannagel’s final goal was an unassisted tally. The junior struck a left-footed corner kick and tucked it inside the back post.

Ricky Kubacki and Greyson Grediagin combined to earn the shutout in the Knights net. Kubacki played the first 60 minutes of the match, and Grediagin was the goalkeeper for the final 20 minutes. Each had one save.

Colony girls play to tie

ANCHORAGE — Despite numerous opportunities on their offensive end, the Colony Knights settled for a 1-1 girls soccer tie with Nikiski Friday morning at The Dome in Anchorage.

“We went on the attack immediately,” Colony head coach Lorie Miner said.

Miner said Nikiski freshman goalkeeper Rachel Thompson was the difference in the match.

“It could have easily been a 10-1 game. She totally kept them in the game,” Miner said of Thompson. “She’s a very, very good goalie.”

Miner said Thompson snatched a number of balls that could have easily found their way to the back of the net, but was certainly pleased with her team’s offensive effort.

“I’m very impressed with how the girls played,” Miner said.

Colony scored in the 55th minute to tie the score at 1. Senior Brittany Anderson was ultimately credited with the goal, but Miner said Sabrina Trenton and Savanna Nash also played key roles in the score. Trenton came off the corner and Nash screened the Nikiski keeper before Anderson was able to pop the ball in.

Nikiski took the 1-0 lead during the 38th minute.

Colony backup goalkeeper Sierra Copeland started for the Knights.

Moose, Homer boys play to scoreless tie

ANCHORAGE — The Palmer Moose and Homer Mariners played to a scoreless tie Friday afternoon at The Dome in Anchorage.

“Homer’s good,” Palmer head coach Kevin Dearborn said. “It was a good match.”

Dearborn said both sides had chances, but overall, the match was a good opportunity to play on a full-size field.

It was the season-opener for both teams and a rematch of last year’s first-round Northern Lights Conference match, in which Palmer upset top-seeded Homer in a shootout.

“Both teams had two or three chances,” Dearborn said.

Dearborn used three goalkeepers during the match — sophomore Chandler Jones, senior Thomas Morino and freshman Elliott Price. Dearborn said the Moose also experimented with players at new positions.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.