Veteran group

Frontiersman

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors are working to take the next step as a program.

Since advancing to the ASAA state tournament for the first time in 2003, the Warriors have earned a state tourney berth in four of the last six seasons. But in three of those four years, Wasilla was bounced out of the state tournament without a win.

Now the Warriors do not want to just make the state tournament, but make some noise while they’re there. And Wasilla may just have the team to do it.

“We only lost three kids from last year, so it’s not like we’re starting off fresh,” Wasilla first-year head coach Amber Craig said.

Craig, an assistant at WHS for the last four years, takes over for former head coach Katie Broeder, and said the Warriors simply aim to continue what Broeder built.

“We’ve been able to pick up where we left off,” Craig said.

Craig has had few holes to fill this spring. Wasilla graduated only three seniors last year and one starter, midfielder and forward Randi Smith. This season Wasilla has six seniors, most of whom start.

“If they’re not starting, they’re the best subs,” Craig said of the WHS seniors.

Leading the senior class are three of the team’s top players on the defensive end — Tabor Tingstand, Maija Kellner-Rode and goalkeeper Sammy Becker.

Juniors Rachel Kennedy and Krizia Verplancke are also among the top veterans, with Kennedy at forward and Verplancke on defense. The Wasilla lineup also has a strong group of underclassmen, including sophomores Kendra Miner, Ashlynn Frizzelle and Amy Jo Coonrod.

Kennedy, Coonrod and Frizzelle each scored in Wasilla’s 3-1 win over Palmer last week at The Dome in Anchorage.

Craig also noted a pair of newcomers to the program. Junior Tabatha Bare returns to the team after attending a private school as a sophomore. Craig also expects freshman midfielder Nikki Banni to make an impact.

The Warriors have only hit the field twice for official games, against Palmer last week and at Colony on Monday, Craig is excited about her team’s enthusiasm.

“These kids want to win,” Craig said. “Every practice, every game they come out to play.”

Tingstad, Kennedy and Kellner-Rode were all named all-conference last season.

Colony Knights

The Colony Knights, another deep squad looking to play deep into the conference and state tournaments, is simply enthused about getting on to the field.

Actually, enthused could be a vast understatement.

“Twenty seven practices to date and no games,” Colony head coach Lorie Miner said Monday afternoon, just hours before the Knights made their season debut against Wasilla. “It’s very frustrating.”

Miner said the Knights coaching staff has spent much of the last month trying to keep the players engaged durnig a practice setting. But luckily for CHS, the coaches are dealing with a veteran group.

Colony returns basically everyone from a 2008 squad that finished third in the NLC and sixth in state.

Among the veterans back are the captains — senior forward Tara Murray and junior midfielder Katie Gonski. Senior forward Kara Larson, the 2008 NLC Player of the Year, returns. Seniors Alex Coon and Brandy Day are also back.

All-conference midfielders Sara Kenley and Jessica Farrell lead a junior class which also includes goalkeeper Katelyn Payne and Gonski.

Forward Jamie Krediet and goalie Meghan Riopelle lead the sophomores.

Miner is also excited about freshman Brittney Anderson, who will see significant time on defense.

Palmer Moose

Palmer missed the state tournament last season, breaking a string of three straight state berths.

This season, a talented senior class — which includes Tess Anderson, Juliana Mangelsdorf and Krysta Theisen — will hope to lead the Moose back to a playoff berth.

“We’ve got a pretty good group of seniors,” Palmer head coach Brian Fish said. “All the seniors have played all four years on varsity. It’s good to have that experience.”

Among Palmer’s top losses to graduation last year were departed seniors Chelsea Beetch and Jessica Wyckoff, who are both playing college soccer this year. Tasked with filling the void left by Beetch, a first-team all-conference goalkeeper, are juniors Chelsea Riley and Lanycha Zimmer.

“We’ve got a lot of returning players, which is a positive thing,” Fish said. “The one position that’s not returning is our goaltender.”

Fish said Riley and Zimmer will share the duties in net to start the season.

“We’ve got a couple girls working hard,” Fish said of the goalies. “We’ll get them both opportunities and see who’s most comfortable in the net.”

Senior starts Katrina Pilch (midfield) and Megan Marre (defense) are also back.

Fish is also excited about a junior group that includes Shea Riggs, Sierra Shelton and Shawna Thein.

Houston Hawks

Houston, a squad that has traditionally struggled due to a lack of participation, had a decent number of athletes decide to play soccer this spring, coach Wendy Dodge said.

The Hawks, who currently have 14 players on the roster, feature mostly sophomores and juniors. Leading the junior class is midfielder Megan Noonan. The Hawks also have junior striker Michelle Meyer, a foriegn exchange student from Germany.

Savannah Ritter, Amber Acton and Shelby Shaffer are among the top sophomores.

Dodge said the Hawks, who make their season debut on April 28 at Palmer High, are concentrating on how to have success with a short bench.

“With the low numbers, we’re really working on passing,” Dodge said. “Conserving energy.”

Dodge said he’s pleased with the overall level of knowledge of the game, and those new to soccer are learning quick.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.