Team defense helps Knights stay undefeated

PALMER — The undefeated Colony Knights have allowed only one goal this season. That score came in their season opener against Wasilla, and the Knights have not allowed another goal since.

Wednesday, the Knights pushed their streak to more than four complete games without allowing a goal. Longtime head coach Lorie Miner doesn’t have a single reason to explain her team’s defensive success.

She has 11.

“It’s the entire 11 out there. They’re playing really good team ball,” Miner said after a 4-0 win over Palmer at Colony High School. “As a whole, looking and analyzing the games we’ve had, we’re playing very good team ball. You can’t find a weak link, I don’t think.”

Wasilla sophomore Alexa Starr is the only player to find the back of the net against the Knights this season. That score came off a direct kick during the tail end of the first half of the season opener. Since allowing that score, the Knights have put together more than 360 minutes of shutout soccer.

Miner has praised the work of senior goalkeeper Tess McKittrick. She’s routinely called her back line — a unit that typically includes the likes of Savannah Nash, Rebecca Mackey and Bayli Jenksi — “iron clad.”

But Miner said all 11 players on the field are embracing the defensive mentality.

“We’re just not letting people get back. If we do get beat, we’ve got the speed and the ability to turn the ball and transition into offense,” Miner said. “The midfielders and forwards are taking care of business, too.”

That has left Colony opponents with a low number of shots in each of the Knights matches. Palmer’s five shots Wednesday were the most Colony has allowed in a single match this season. Colony held its opponent to just a single shot during wins over Bartlett and Seward.

Kenai only had four shots during a Northern Lights Conference match last weekend.

“We’re not giving them opportunities,” Miner said.

Colony is also taking advantage of its opportunities on the other side. Freshman Peyton Johnstone scored twice to lead the Knights on Wednesday. Ali Baker and Ariana Saxon also had goals.

Colony boys 8, Palmer 1

PALMER — Colony scored seven unanswered goals to post an 8-1 win over the Palmer Moose Wednesday at Colony High School.

Junior Phillip Palm scored on a header off a long Tyler Carbone free kick during the 13th minute to tie the score for the Moose. Carbone took the free kick from the right side of the field, and Palm broke into the box from the backside and used a header to knock the ball high into the far side of the net.

Following the Palm goal, Colony took back the momentum, scoring twice more in the first half, and five times during the second half.

Kyle Bolam led the Knights with two goals in the win. Jake Spannagel, Harrison Menard, Andrew Knowles, Cameron Shaw, Chris Olsen and Arty Fonov also scored for CHS.

Bolam, Austin Richardson and Chris Hediger finished with two assists each.