Warriors edge Knights, win NLC boys title

WASILLA — Despite a pair of three-goal losses to the Colony Knights during the regular season, the Wasilla Warriors maintained the belief they could play with their chief rival.

The Warriors also believed, on the right day, Wasilla could even beat Colony, the defending conference champion and 2013 4A state runner-up.

Saturday was that day.

Senior forward Ethan Keenan scored a pair of goals and senior goalkeeper Kevin O’Laughlin made a handful of match-saving stops to help lead Wasilla to a 2-1 win over Colony in the Northern Lights Conference boys championship match at Wasilla High’s Veterans Memorial Field.

“They’re the most dangerous team in the state I think,” Wasilla senior captain Cash McGregor said moments after he had teammates celebrated the victory by dousing head coach Blake Livingston with a cooler full of water. “Everyone knows Colony’s a big dog, and they sit back and try to counter like Kenai did yesterday.”

Kenai stood on the shoulders of its sturdy defense in its bid to upset Colony during the NLC semifinals Friday. McGregor said coming out aggressive was key for Wasilla.

“We just kind of took it to them, and it worked out today,” McGregor said.

Wasilla was able to find an early lead, scoring in the fourth minute of regulation. R.J. Kinmon drove the ball up the right side of the field and put a shot on goal. The initial save was made on the play, but as the ball came loose, Keenan crashed the net and popped a shot into the top of the goal.

“That was massive,” McGregor said. “Ethan was just following the ball like a good fundamental player.”

Livingston, who won his fourth NLC title during his 15-year tenure as the Warriors head coach, said striking first was crucial for the Warriors.

“From there, the guys felt like we could do it,” Livingston said.

Keenan gave his team the two-goal lead in the 52nd minute. While awareness may have been the key to the first score, Keenan showed off his speed and skill on his second goal.

After taking a feed from senior Oleg Lozko, Keenan raced up the right side of the field. The senior forward cut toward the goal, beating a defender, and made a quick move to put the ball in the Colony net.

“Ethan’s so fast, so instinctual,” Livingston said. “He made the most out of it, made it happen.”

With Keenan supplying the goals, O’Laughlin helped keep the Warriors ahead. Late in the first half, O’Laughlin made a pair of diving, two-hand saves, to stop shots by Colony’s Ben Sande.

In the 48th minute, O’Laughlin made back-to-back saves that potentially saved the match for the Warriors.

Colony senior Chris Olsen slipped a pass deep into the box. Harrison Menard was left one-on-one with O’Laughlin, mere feet from the goal. Menard put a hard shot on net. O’Laughlin was sent to the turf, but made the save.

The ball was then knocked out of the box, where Austin Richardson ripped a hard shot on net. O’Laughlin promptly made another two-handed save.

“Kevin was the man of the match,” Livingston said. “He kept us in the game; made some fantastic saves.”

McGregor said after O’Laughlin was left off the NLC All-Conference team, which was announced Friday, the WHS senior keeper may have had some added motivation.

“He’s unbelievable. He was a little mad yesterday. He didn’t get picked for first or second team, but he’s been playing like that all year. (Today) he proved them all wrong,” McGregor said. “He’s the best keeper in the conference, and he proved it today.”

Colony, in search of its 11th region title in program history, scored its lone goal during the 66th minute. Menard made a centering pass from the right side of the box, and Sande tapped it in for a score.

Longtime head coach Jeremy Johnson said it was unfortunate for the Knights to suffer their first NLC game of the season in the title match, but commended Wasilla.

“They put out a great effort,” Johnson said. “(O’Laughlin) was phenomenal back there in goal.”

Johnson said he felt good about certain things the Knights were able to do, but outstanding play by O’Laughlin and an early mistake that led to Wasilla’s first goal proved to be key in the match.

Overall, Johnson said the Knights need to quickly change their focus to the state tournament.

“We need to move on to the next match,” Johnson said.