State powers collide: Knights sweep Lynx

PALMER — It’s been nearly 11 months since Colony’s heartbreaking shootout loss to Dimond in the 2018 Division I boys’ state final. On Thursday, the Knights met the Lynx for the first time since, and Colony came away with a 2-1 win over Dimond in the rematch.

Longtime head coach Jeremy Johnson said Thursday’s victory at Colony High School was more about the Knights establishing themselves as a team to beat in 2019 than a win that numbs the sting that may remain from the loss in the 2018 title game.

“We want to beat every opponent we play. We want to show everyone we’re the class of our own league and the class of the state. That’s a goal we set this year,” Johnson said.

But that doesn’t mean the Knights have not been eager for another crack at Dimond.

“The boys were ready. We were ready. We were excited,” Johnson said. “Dimond came out with a really quality side we knew they were.”

Eli Krozel hammered home a rebound during the final 10 minutes of play to supply the game winner. Wyatt Erwin drove the ball up the right side of the field. Captain Kyle Dearborn made an adjustment in the center of the box, and delivered a hard strike on goal.

The ball deflected off the Dimond goalkeeper to the left. Krozel was there and placed a shot in a gap between the keeper and a defender, and found the back of the net.

“He cashed in great. It was perfect,” Johnson said. “It was a great set up.”

Krozel provided the go-ahead goal about 15 minutes after Dimond capitalized on arguably Colony’s only hiccup of the match. Midway through the second half, Dimond was awarded a penalty kick. Raymond Burke converted to tie the score at 1.

Other than the PK, Johnson said he felt good about his team’s play against the Cook Inlet Conference power.

“We felt like they really didn’t have too many other really dangerous chances against us,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the Knights also held the advantage on the offensive end.

“We forced their goalkeepers, both of them, to make some beautiful saves,” Johnson said, referring to Dimond sophomores Zavier Hajdukovich and Cooper Hamlett.

The Division I rivals played through a scoreless first half, but Colony sophomore Connor Friesen gave the Knights the lead early in the second. Friesen followed a through ball courtesy of Dearborn, and scored on a one-on-one chance six minutes into the second half.

The boys’ win capped a sweep for the Knights. Earlier in the evening, Colony scored a 1-0 win over the Dimond girls.

Freshman Kayley Hutchings scored the game-winner at about the 30-minute mark. Hutchings sent a shot from just outside of the box and tucked it inside the left post.

Johnson said the Hutchings goal combined with a great defensive effort led to the win.

“The defense is really good at bending, not breaking,” Johnson said. “They know each other, work really well together.”

Senior goalkeeper Ashlynn Cornellison was also key, Johnson said.

“Ashlynn was definitely on e of the starts of the game,” Johnson said. “She had to make three to four really good saves.”

Both Colony squads stayed undefeated with the wins. The boys are 4-0-0, and have outscored opponents 24-1. The girls are 3-0.

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