Prep soccer: Squads see the cycle of soccer

May 1, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - High schools sports are generally cyclical in nature.

Programs may be heavy on upperclassmen one year, and a little lean the next.

Want proof?

Just look at the two teams that played in the title match of the Northern Lights Conference tournament boys' bracket last season, the Palmer Moose and Colony Knights.

A year removed from Colony's 1-0 win over the Moose in the NLC championship game, the Valley teams are working through sort of a youth movement.

The Knights have 16 underclassmen on their 2007 roster, while the Moose returned just two starters from the 2006

season.

&#8220It's different from last year,” said Palmer senior Jerry Melin, one of the two Moose starters returning to the 2007 season.

In order for Palmer to contend for one of the three NLC berths to the state tournament, the Moose know the underclassman will play a role in whether Palmer stays home or earns a trip to the state tourney.

&#8220I'm sure they will,” Melin said. &#8220They'll be a big part of the team.”

The Moose have a handful of freshmen - such as Brennan Bohman, Zach Zegzdryn, Ben Ballard and Ryan Conroy - who could play big roles in the offensive success of the team. And the play of a few sophomores like Phillip Jansen and Donovan Hard will be key on the defensive end.

Palmer head coach Kevin Dearborn said he is pleased with the development of those young players.

&#8220They're coming along good,” Dearborn said after Palmer's 5-1 win over Nikiski on Friday. &#8220The next step is cohesiveness.”

The test for the coaching staff is blending the new talent with the veterans.

&#8220It's definitely a combination of both,” Dearborn said. &#8220a combination of returning seniors, and those young guys stepping up.”

Five of Palmer's six goals this season have been scored by freshman.

Zegzdryn and Conroy each have two goals, while Bohman has scored once.

Melin is the lone Palmer upperclassman with a goal.

Conroy exploded for four points - two goals and two assists - in the win over Nikiski. Dearborn said the freshman started the year on the junior varsity squad.

&#8220He was originally on J.V. only because at that point he was young physically. I was afraid of him getting pushed off the ball,” Dearborn said. &#8220But he did outstanding in the first couple of J.V. games, and now he's on board with us.”

Seven of Colony's 10 goals have been scored by underclassmen, and the Knights' leading goal scorer, Cody Fritz, is a sophomore.

With the loss of senior George Percak-Dennett in goal, freshman Elliot Gilbert has settled into the starting spot as the Knights' keeper.

Teams head south

All of the Valley teams are heading south this weekend. Palmer, Colony, Wasilla and Houston are taking their boys and girls squads to the Kenai Peninsula.

Colony is at Nikiski on Thursday, Kenai on Friday and Soldotna on Saturday. Palmer is at Skyview on Thursday, Soldotna on Friday and Kenai on Saturday. Wasilla is at Grace Christian in Anchorage on Thursday, Homer on Friday and Skyview on Saturday. Houston is at Seward on Friday and Nikiski on Saturday.

First to 10

Wasilla senior Jordan Ingalls is the first player in the Valley to hit 10 goals this season, and he needed only four games to get there. Ingalls posted the hat trick in wins over Palmer and Colony, and scored twice against Nikiski and Skyview.

Ingalls has outscored both the Houston and Palmer teams combined, and has as many goals as the entire Colony squad.

Still looking for the first

Three games into the season, both Houston squads are looking for their first goals of the season.

The Houston girls suffered a 1-0 loss to Grace Christian in the season-opener and fell to Kenai 12-0 and Soldotna 8-0.

The Houston boys have suffered a 7-0 loss to Grace, a 8-0 loss to Kenai and a 11-0 loss to Soldotna.

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