Valley soccer teams prepare for regions

WASILLA — Although the Warriors soundly defeated the Moose 6-0 in the girls’ game Wednesday, the Palmer boys held their own against Wasilla, despite a 4-0 loss.

And all four teams are still in the running for next weekend’s region tournament.

The Warriors got things going quickly in the game, sending a shot from Teyonnah Williams into the net in the 10th minute of play. After a lead-preserving save by Wasilla keeper Lauren Amirault a few minutes later, sophomore Ally Hull put the Warriors up 2-0 with a tally in the 15th minute.

And they kept hammering after that, with multiple shots on goal, including two more scores from Hull to put Wasilla up 4-0 at the break.

It was more of the same in the second half, as the Warrior offense controlled play and sent a barrage of shots at the Palmer net.

At the other end of the field, Wasilla’s defense was impenetrable. The Moose had a chance to score on a penalty kick, but the Warriors turned back the challenge en route to the shutout victory over their Valley rival.

Wasilla senior captain Alexa Starr and Williams tallied in the 65th and 66th minutes to ice the game at 6-0.

Palmer head coach Harmony Chadwick said she was more proud of her team’s finish than their play during the rest of the game, but she knew going in that it was going to be a tough game.

“We know Wasilla’s a good team,” she said. “They’re really good at the triangle passing game.”

A few Palmer girls admitted their communication on the field could’ve been better, but Chadwick said their youth is holding them back a bit, skill-wise. The Lady Moose have just three seniors on their roster, and six juniors — the rest are underclassmen.

The 6-0 loss didn't get them down, though — the Moose went into their game against Houston hard Thursday night, felling the Hawks 7-1 with goals from Kiana Till (2), Tiana Lee (2), Caile Dosser (2) and Haley Hanson (1). The victory secures Palmer a slot in the region championship next weekend.

Wasilla head coach Patrick O’Neill said his team was not so much focused on the final score of the game Wednesday as fine-tuning their skills and preparing for regions. Their goals were to “play hard to the ball” and “play unselfish,” which, judging by the number of different players who had shots on goal, was successful.

Still, “we didn’t finish as many chances as we had,” O’Neill said.

The Warriors travel to the Peninsula to play Nikiski tomorrow night.

Wasilla boys 4, Palmer 0

WASILLA — The Warriors were led by a pair of goals from Grig Lozko on Wednesday, on their way to a 4-0 victory over Palmer.

Palmer head coach Jason Rice says he’s OK with his team being “the underdogs,” as it gives them a chance to surprise people at regions.

Although Palmer ultimately lost, the team played a solid first half that left the game scoreless at the break.

The second half was practically a different ball game. Wasilla came on strong off the centerline, sending an unsuccessful shot toward the Palmer goal in the 41st minute. But three minutes later, Lozko netted the Warriors’ first goal off an assist by captain Carson Dodd to put the Warriors up 1-0.

Wasilla kept the offensive pressure on Palmer with multiple shots on goal, but did not tally again until #21 sent the ball arcing toward the Palmer goal from left field. The ball dropped silently into the net behind Moose keeper Brandon Banks, drawing surprised cheers from the Warriors and their fans.

Lozko notched his second goal of the game with five minutes remaining off a huge sprinting breakaway to put the home team up 3-0. Kyle Broach put up Wasilla’s final goal on a penalty kick.

Wasilla assistant coach Allen Chadwick complimented Banks and the rest of his team on their play.

“Palmer played a tough first half,” Chadwick said. “They were really strong on defense.”

But once Wasilla settled in at about 15 minutes, he said, they started working around that defense.

“Once we started getting our combination plays together, we looked way better,” Chadwick said.

Coach Rice said he isn’t too concerned about Palmer’s loss. He said the Moose were careful to rest injured players as much as possible, while experimenting with different lineups to see who’s going to play what position at regions.

“We’re looking for that 12th man, so to speak, to step up and be something,” Rice said.

And for a school of 700, he said, they pull some pretty good athletes.

“I’m just amazed,” Rice said.

Contact Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.