Warriors earn split in first two games of season

WASILLA — Wasilla graduated only four seniors from a squad that skated to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament last season. Despite losing a small number of seniors, the Warriors return another young squad, with more underclassmen than upperclassman on their 2012-13 roster.

Sporting a young team once again, Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdevant wasn’t quite sure what to expect Tuesday when his Warriors opened the season against state power South Anchorage. The Warriors suffered a 2-0 loss, but Sturdevant was happy with some of what he saw.

“Obviously, you’re never happy with a loss, but coming into this game not knowing what to expect, overall, I’m pleased,” Sturdevant said of the Warriors, who bounced back to earn a 3-1 victory over East Anchorage on Thursday.

On Tuesday, junior Steven Orizotti recorded a pair of first-period goals to lead South to the win. Senior Nathan Wright stopped 17 shots to earn the shutout in the Wolverines net.

But after South outshot Wasilla 12-2 in the first period and bagged its two goals, Sturdevant said the Warriors improved in the second and third periods.

“I’m definitely pleased with the way the game continued after that first period, the way we responded,” he said.

Wasilla collected five shots in the second and outshot South 10-6 in the third.

“That showed we were steadily progressing,” Sturdevant said. “With each period we got better.”

Sophomore Lauren Massie, who earned his first career win over the then-defending state champion Wolverines in his first career start as a freshman last year, was solid again against South, stopping 27 shots.

“I’m really happy with the way Massie played,” Sturdevant said.

South cashed in on a deflection early in the game less than four minutes into regulation. Defenseman Trevor Geerin took a shot from the left point. The puck took multiple bounces, the last off Orizotti’s stick and into the back of the Warrior net. With just more than four minutes left, South freshman Daniel Haider set up Orizotti’s second score.

Haider — the younger brother of past Alaska State Player of the Year and former Alaska Avalanche forward Robb Haider — made a pass from the left slot across the zone to Orizotti, who snuck another puck past Massie.

On Thursday, Wasilla got goals from two sophomores and a junior during that win over East.

Sophomores Luke Schruf and Tanner Schachle posted first period goals for Wasilla. Junior Cooper Hanson recorded a power-play tally in the third.

Massie had 22 saves for the Warriors, who were outshot 23-19.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com, follow him @matsu_sports and find him by searching Valley Sports Huddle on Facebook.

South Anchorage 2,

Wasilla 0

Tuesday, Brett Memorial Ice Arena

First period — 1. South- Orizotti (Geerin, McPheters) 11:21; 2. South- Orizotti (Haider, Congdon) 4:29.

Second period — no scoring.

Third period — no scoring.

Shots on goal: South 12-11-6—29, Wasilla 2-5-10—17; Saves: South- Wright 2-5-10—17, Wasilla- Massie 10-11-6—27.