Senior scores with 5 minutes left to give Moose the win

PALMER — The Palmer Moose could not have found a better way to start their 2014 boys soccer season. Senior Cody Wells scored during the 75th minute to lead Palmer to a 1-0 nonconference victory over Bartlett Thursday at Machetanz Field in Palmer.

“Incredible way to start the season. Usually it doesn’t go this well for us at the beginning,” said Palmer head coach Kevin Dearborn, who begins his eighth season at the helm of Moose boys soccer.

Wells drove the ball deep inside the box and slipped a shot past the diving Golden Bear goalkeeper to provide the lone goal of the match. Senior Nathan Pempek helped create opportunity, pushing the ball up the midfield. Pempek moved a pass to the left side to freshman Johnie Burton. With the ball on the left side, Burton dropped a pass back to Wells. From there, Wells dribbled in before slipping the shot into the net.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’m really pleased with the way they fought back in the second half,” Dearborn said.

Bartlett was able to control play for stretches of the match. The Golden Bears put two shots off the crossbar, but Palmer sophomore goalkeeper Brandon Banks also came through with a handful of big saves for the Moose.

Dearborn said he was also pleased with effort of a team that currently features only 14 players on the roster.

“We don’t have a lot of depth. They came out in the second half and pushed it hard, that was huge,” Dearborn said.

The Moose are not only excited to get the win, but simply to have the opportunity to play a home game during the first three days of April.

“That’s the best part about this, we’re out here early,” Dearborn said.

In girls’ action, Bartlett scored an early goal and held on for a 1-0 win over Palmer. Moose head coach Harmony Chadwick said Bartlett simply took advantage of a good opportunity during the fifth minute to score the match’s lone goal. She said nerves also played a role for the Moose early. Palmer features a number of players new to the varsity level.

Led by senior Elliot Perkins, Palmer had quality opportunities late in the game. Perkins drove the ball up the left side of the field and sent a pass across to Kiana Till, who put a shot on goal just wide of the net.

The Moose also had three straight corner kicks during the final two minutes of play. On one of those plays, Perkins pushed a shot just wide of the post.

Earlier in the second half, freshman Haley Hanson had a 1-on-1 opportunity, but the Bartlett keeper came through with the save.

Palmer returns to the field to host South Anchorage Saturday. The girls play at 10 a.m. and the boys follow at noon.