Scorer to stopper

PALMER — James Meaney spent the first three years of his high school soccer career scoring goals. Now as a senior, he’s stopping them.

Meaney, the all-time leading goal-scorer in the history of the Colony Knights boys’ soccer program, was unveiled as the team’s new starting goalkeeper when the Knights made their 2011 debut against Nikiski earlier this month. Meaney scored 57 goals during his first three years to eclipse the prior mark held by former Knights star Nathan Chud. And as odd as it may seem to move your top goal-scorer in net, Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson had his reasons.

“It’s a really tough call. I can’t believe we’re doing it. But at the moment, that’s what we have,” Johnson said recently, “When it came down to it, James might score two or three goals a game. But if we don’t have anyone to stop the other team, we could give up 4-5 and we don’t win.”

Colony entered the preseason with a gaping hole in goal. The Knights graduated former goalies Elliott Gilbert and Jesse Krey, the keepers of the Colony net for the last four years, and had not been able to develop a younger goalie.

Meaney had past experience. As a freshman, Meaney started by working out with Gilbert and Krey in goal, but it didn’t take long for the Colony coaches to see Meaney’s knack for putting the ball in the net.

“Whenever we’d put him in a normal scoring drill, he’d do well,” Johnson said.

Johnson may not have expected Meaney’s production when the freshman entered the program

“I could see he had good skill and size, and as a freshman he had good scoring ability,” Johnson said

As it turned out, Meaney proved to be a natural.

“Some people can just score goals, and he’s one of them,” Johnson said.

Meaney said he likes his move to goalkeeper.

“I think I’m a better goalie than a forward,” Meaney said. “Scoring a goal is a really good feeling, but it’s a better feeling being back there.”

This is also not the first time Johnson has moved a top scorer between the posts.

A few years ago, freshman goalie Ian Walton backstopped the Knights way to a Northern Lights Conference championship. As a sophomore and junior, Walton played forward and led the Knights in goals during both seasons. As a senior, Walton took back his job as starting goalkeeper

So far, the Meaney-led Knights are 3-0-1 and Meaney has two shutouts.

With Meaney in goal, Johnson is using a rotation of four forwards to handle the bulk of the scoring — seniors Hunter Fisher, Avery Smith and Grant Krueger, and freshman Chris Olsen.

In the midfield, the Knights have junior John Meaney, senior Matt Kelly, senior Connor Weihs and sophomore Leo Jaschek.

Sophomores Nate Parker and Lucas Hickle, and freshman Ben Atkinson are among the younger players also contributing

Overall, Johnson said senior Logan Basner and junior Sean Collette are leaders on the squad.

Young talent leads Colony girls

The future certainly looks promising for the Colony girls soccer squad. In addition to a handful of key veterans, the Knights have a stable of underclassmen to work with this season.

Senior midfielder Jamie Krediet, senior goalkeeper Meghan Riopelle, and juniors Krystal Heimerl and Brittany Anderson lead the Knights into the 2011 season. Heimerl and Anderson earned first-team All-Northern Lights Conference honors last season, and Krediet and Riopelle were named to the second team last year.

Colony head coach Lorie Miner said Krediet will be a pivotal player for the Knights this year.

“The nice thing about what Jamie’s doing this year is she’s not holding back on shooting,” Miner said of Krediet recently

Miner also said Krediet is very aware of her teammates and has done a good job of feeding them the ball.

The Knights have a very strong sophomore class, which includes Zoe Hixenbaugh, Allison Baker and Ashley James.

Miner is also excited about a freshman class that features Carolyn Cox, Rebecca Steele-Mackey, Bayli Jenski and Jaden Chew.

“We’ve got a group of freshmen that’s been playing together for quite some time,” Miner said.

The group of younger talent also includes Emma Jenski, Savannah Nash and Kiana Valdez.

Arianna Saxon will also help the Knights up front.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

COLONY KNIGHTS

Boys head coach: Jeremy Johnson

Boys 2010 finish: First in NLC, fifth in state tournament

Boys key returners: James Meaney, Sr, GK; Hunter Fisher, Sr., F; Logan Basner, Sr, MF; Avery Smith, Sr., F.

Boys key losses: Oliver Querin; Elliott Gilbert; Jesse Krey; Logan Smith; Aaron Richardson.

Girls head coach: Lorie Miner

Girls 2010 finish: Third in NLC; Tied for seventh in state tournament

Girls key returners: Jamie Krediet, Sr., MF; Meghan Riopelle, Sr, GK; Brittany Anderson, Jr, F; Krystal Heimerl, Jr.

Girls key losses: Sara Kenley; Katie Gonski; Jessica Parker; Jessica Farrell.