State power slips past Warriors

CHUGIAK — The Wasilla Warriors came just about as close as possible to knocking off a state power, but fell just short.

South Anchorage scored in overtime to edge Wasilla 2-1 during the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank State Soccer Championships at Chugiak High School’s Tom Huffer Sr. Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

“We honestly played about as well as we could,” Wasilla head coach Blake Livingston said. “For a lot of the game we bunkered down and had to be disciplined defensively, and looked to counter.”

After South took an early lead, Wasilla countered, grabbing the equalizer about six minutes after the Wolverines’ goal.

Kyler Perry headed in an Oleg Lozko corner kick to put the Warriors on the scoreboard.

“I was happy to see us show resiliency to equalize in that situation,” Livingston said. “I think we sent a strong message to South that we’d be around for a full 80 minutes. We were going to keep battling.”

South was able to score the game-winner six minutes into the first overtime.

South, the 2011 state runner-up, has made six trips to the state championship game and has won four state titles since 2005. Livingston said it was tough losing the close match to the state power, but is proud of his team.

Wasilla hits the field today to face Northern Lights Conference rival Homer in consolation play. Wasilla edged Homer 2-1 last week to win the NLC title for the second consecutive year. Another win over the Mariners would put Wasilla into the fourth-place game, which is slated for Saturday at 9:45 a.m. at Dimond High in Anchorage.

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