State soccer: Moose, Warriors to meet in first round

ANCHORAGE - Earlier this season, Palmer boys soccer head coach Tom Harrison said its tough for a team with Palmer's skilled ball control style to play a squad like Wasilla, with players that tend to rely on speed, hustle and grit.

Palmer and Wasilla have already played three times this season, and the Valley rivals will meet once more. The Moose, the runners-up in the Northern Lights Conference tournament on Saturday, drew the Warriors as their first opponent in the 2006 Alaska Schools Activities Association state soccer tournament.

Palmer and Wasilla face at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Anchorage Football Stadium.

&#8220Wasilla's a tough team. You never look forward to playing them,” Harrison said. &#8220But at this point, all the teams that are left are tough.”

The Moose have a 2-1 edge in the season series thus far. Palmer edged the Warriors 1-0 in the season opener, and 1-0 again in the semifinal round of the NLC tourney. In its lone loss of the season, Palmer fell at Wasilla 2-0.

&#8220They're definitely scrappy and athletic,” Harrison said.

Wasilla advanced to the tournament after claiming the third NLC berth with a 2-1 win over Kenai.

Trailing the Kardinals by a score deep into the second half, the Warriors scored a pair of goals in the final 20 minutes to get the win.

In the 70th minute, junior Jordan Ingalls converted a penalty kick to put WHS on the scoreboard.

Ten minutes later, sophomore Adam Friese posted the game-winner by putting a rebound into the Kardinals net.

The Warriors opened the tourney with a 3-0 win over Soldotna. Ingalls, Friese and John Pahkala scored.

Devon Conroy scored his school-record 23rd goal of the season to give the Moose a 1-0 win over Skyview in the first round.

Palmer fell 1-0 to Colony in the championship game.

Austin Manelick gave the Knights another region title, scoring the lone goal of the game 10 minutes into the second half. The senior put a direct kick past Palmer goalkeeper Trent Berberich.

Colony opens the tourney with a match against Juneau-Douglas at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The Knights are looking for their second-straight trip to the state championship game. Last season, South Anchorage edged CHS for the title.

The Knights have already seen Juneau-Douglas, a longtime state power in soccer, once this year. The teams played to a 2-2 tie at CHS.

Harrison said Colony's tie with Juneau and Wasilla's win over the Crimson Bears are proof that the Valley soccer squads are strong this year.

&#8220I definitely think you can't count the Valley schools out,” Harrison said.

Last year, Harrison's Moose pulled off arguably the upset of the tourney when Palmer beat West.

Palmer is the lone Valley program still alive in girls soccer. The runner-up in the NLC will face Chugiak at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Moose beat Homer and Grace at the region event.