Valley soccer squads aim for state tourney berths

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

COLONY - With a 12-1-2 record and the top seed in the Northern Lights Conference Tournament, there is not much for the Colony Knights to worry about.

But if the Knights strive to make one improvement in their play, the focus will be on finishing chances. In its last three games, Colony posted three shutouts, but scored just three goals en route to two wins and a tie.

"We just need to capitalize on opportunities," Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson said. "We've created plenty of opportunities."

Colony drew Soldotna as its opening- round opponent, and face the Stars today at 1 p.m. on the CHS soccer field. Even though Colony earned a 4-1 win over Soldotna in a regular-season meeting, Johnson said the Knight will not look immediately ahead to a possible second-round match against either Palmer or Homer.

"Soldotna has had a pretty solid program over the years. We are defiantly not going to overlook them," Johnson said. "You lose the first game and you're done."

Wasilla (7-1-5) earned the second seed out of the North Division of the conference. The Warriors face Kenai in a first-round matchup at 9 a.m. on the CHS football field. In a regular-season meeting, Wasilla notched one of its five ties against the Kardinals. The match ended in a 1-1 tie.

The game plan, and success, of the Warriors this season has started from the defensive end. Wasilla allowed more than two goals just once this season, a 6-3 loss to Skyview last week. Even though the Warriors finished scoreless in a 0-0 tie Monday against Colony, Wasilla head coach Blake Livingston said, because of his team's defense, the Warriors can do well in the postseason.

"I feel if we bring this kind of effort every game, we can definitely be a tough opponent," Livingston said.

Palmer (5-5-1) opens with Homer in the first round at 3 p.m. on the CHS soccer field.

In the girls' bracket, the Moose own the top seed from the North Division. Palmer opens with Soldotna today at 1 p.m. on the CHS football field. Soldotna is the fourth seed in the South Division, but will not be looked at as an easy opponent. Palmer edged the Stars 1-0 in a regular season meeting.

"It was a real tight game," Moose head coach Brian Fish said.

Fish said the game is an example of how competitive the conference has been this season.

"Top to bottom, all the teams are pretty even. I don't think there is a clear runaway at all," Fish said.

Colony earned the second seed from the North and open against Nikiski today at 9 a.m. on the CHS soccer field.

Wasilla, coming off its first win over CHS in the history of the Warrior program, opens against Kenai at 11 a.m. on the CHS soccer field.

The top three from each bracket advance to the state championship tournament, next week in Anchorage.

Last season CHS was the only school to send teams to the state tournament. The Colony boys and Knight girls each finished third in the 2004 Region III championship tournament.