Warriors get first postseason win

WASILLA -- The Wasilla Warriors boys' soccer squad has taken advantage of opportunities and have made history doing so.

Wasilla had several firsts this season including their first trip to the Region III championship game and their first trip to the state

tournament.

Now Wasilla has their first postseason win.

The Warriors edged the West Eages 3-0 in the first round of the ASAA 4A State Soccer Tournament on Thursday.

The Warriors took advantage of scoring opportunities late in the game to score a trio of goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Wasilla senior Josh Bean took advantage of an opportunity to play a different position, and the change paid of dividends for the Warriors. Late in the contest, Wasilla head coach Blake Livingston made a switch in the lineup moving Bean, who normally plays center midfield, up front to a striker position.

Minutes later Bean booted a loose ball into the West net to break the scoreless tie and give the Warriors a one-goal advantage.

"He's versatile," Livingston said. "He made the most of the opportunity. He was only up there about 10 minutes."

Bean said after the game he has a pulled quadriceps muscle and that was one of the first times this season he played the striker position.

Bean worked through injury and inexperience to come up with the clutch goal.

Bean's goal would not be the only scoring output of the game for the Warriors. Wasilla was able to strike twice in the final minute of the game.

With less than a minute left in regulation, Wasilla midfielder Cody Schierman stole the ball, drove it down the field, barely keeping it in bounds at one point, beat a pair of defenders and West's charging goalkeeper and put a shot just right of the Eagle net. Warrior striker Loren Smith streaked past a West defensmen and put the ball into the gaping net to give Wasilla the 2-0 lead.

Just seconds later Smith had a one-on-one opportunity with the West keeper.

The keeper tried to kick the ball away, but it bounced off the shins of Smith.

Smith kicked the ball into the net for Wasilla's third goal.

The first 70 minutes of the game featured a high pace with each team getting several quality chances on net.

"It was really intense, both ways," Livingston said.

In a game where both keepers excelled, Wasilla stopper Nathan Miller could have stood out the most.

"He was stellar," Livingston said. "He was the player of the game and it was well-deserved."

Miller was able to make finger-tip saves and stop point blank shots en route to grabbing the shutout.

The Wasilla defense was also able to take pressure off its netminder.

"Our defense is the heart of our team," Livingston said.

While praising his defense, Livingston noted the performances of Abe Salmon, Mike Rubio, Robbie Champion and Adam Billings.

See the Friday edition of the Frontiersman for more action from the ASAA State Soccer Tournament