Sweet victory

MAY 10, 2005

JEREMIAH BARTZ/Frontiersman sports editor

WASILLA - It could have been heart. Possibly it was desire. Maybe it was fate.

But whatever sparked Wasilla on Monday, the Warriors used it to notch a historic win. In the prep soccer regular season finale, Wasilla edged Colony 2-1, earning its first win over the Valley rival in the history of the Warrior program.

"(Beating Colony) has been a goal since I came in as a freshman," said senior Beck Hesselbach, who notched the game-winning goal with just three minutes remaining in the second half.

"I am so happy."

And rightfully so, as she notched the game-winner on senior night, and in the final match at Wasilla High School's Veterans Memorial Field for Hesselbach and six other seniors.

Hesselbach gave the Warriors the one-goal advantage after winning a 1-on-1 with a Colony defender. She made a quick adjustment, won position and put a shot on goal that rolled from near the sideline on the left side of the field into the right side of the net.

"I really didn't think it was going to go in. It really didn't have much power. I was pretty burnt out by the time I got there," Hesselbach said. "Maybe it was fate, because it went in."

Wasilla head coach Katie Broeder said Hesselbach's desire helped her with the achievement.

"She wanted to win," Broeder said. "Beck is one of our two best seniors. She's a very versatile player - one of the best players I've ever seen come through Wasilla High School."

Wasilla improved to 3-6-1 overall win the victory, and has won three of its last four games. Just two weeks ago, in their first match of the season, the Knights handed Wasilla a 3-0 loss.

Why the turnaround?

"We played with heart," Broeder said. "We've really been playing as team."

Broeder said communication is better and her team's ability to pass the ball is very much improved.

After a scoreless first half, Wasilla took a 1-0 lead just minutes into the second on a Csesalie Lewis goal. Lewis sprinted past a pair of Knights and booted the ball into the left side of the Colony net.

Soon after Colony got a fortunate bounce and tied the score at 1-1.

Goalkeeper Allie Johnson, also in her final regular season game with the Warriors, helped Wasilla notched the win with several key saves in the second half.

"Allie had a great game," Broeder said.

Colony and Wasilla now prepare for the Northern Lights Conference Tournament, hosted by the Knights. Tournament action begins Friday at CHS.