Warriors sweep Moose; Knights blank Bartlett

PALMER — Local soccer coaches and players have felt teased this season. Earlier in the spring, Mat-Su prep squads hit the turf for official outdoor matches in the Valley during the first week of April for the first time, maybe, ever.

But two-day span of matches was followed by a monstrous spring snowfall. After nearly two weeks of indoor practices and waiting for the snow to melt, local squads are finally back outside on the turf.

As it turns out, the break might have done at least one local program some good.

Just about two weeks after suffering a lopsided loss to Colony in its season-opener, Wasilla grabbed a 2-0 girls soccer win over rival Palmer at Colony High School Wednesday afternoon.

“We were wishing the snowfall happened the day before we played Colony,” Wasilla head coach Patrick O’Neill joked.

After losing 6-1 to Colony, the Warriors rebounded for the two-goal shutout win over the Moose.

“We were playing as a team, being more aggressive,” O’Neill said.

Alexa Starr and Teyonnah Williams scored for Wasilla, and Crystal Branson earned the shutout in the WHS net.

Starr gave the Warriors their first lead at about the 30-minute mark of the first half. Starr took the ball near the centerline and drove the ball deep into the Palmer end. Starr beat a challenge from the Moose goalkeeper and tucked a shot into the right corner of the net.

Williams capped a scramble with her goal to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead. The scramble followed a corner kick. A Wasilla shot hit the post and Wasilla had another opportunity, which was saved by the Moose, and Williams capitalized on her team’s third chance.

O’Neill said his team certainly played better in the second half, but he also praised the work of the Moose.

“Palmer, they’re definitely very physical,” O’Neill said. “They never give less than 100 percent. We’ve got to match that intensity, match that effort.”

O’Neill said the Moose had quality chances, particularly in the first half.

“The first half they had some really good attacks,” O’Neill said. “But I was really happy with how my defense played.”

Wasilla boys 4, Palmer 0

PALMER — Senior Kyler Perry netted a hat trick to lead the Wasilla Warriors to a 4-0 boys soccer win over Palmer at Colony High School Wednesday afternoon.

Perry scored a first-half goal, and added goals on a free kick and penalty shot during the second half. Oleg Lozko also scored for the Warriors.

Perry recorded an assist on the Lozko goal. Cash McGregor also notched an assist in the win. Corey Hogan earned the shutout for the Warriors, who improved to 2-1 win the victory.

Colony girls 7, Bartlett 0

PALMER — Ali Baker scored four times as Colony netted a 7-0 nonconference win over the Bartlett Golden Bears Wednesday at Colony High School.

Bristyl Baker, Peyton Johnston and Ashley James also scored goals. Sabreena Trenton, Ariana Saxon, Bristyl Baker and Zoe Hizenbaugh had assists.

Tessa McKittrick earned the shutout.

Colony boys 7, Bartlett 0

PALMER — The Colony Knights played to a 7-0 boys soccer win over Bartlett Wednesday at Colony High.

Nick Blohm, Jacob Spannagel and Arty Fonov scored goals for CHS. Spannagel, Harrison Menard, Russell Diotte, Rayce Cole and Ben Atkinson recorded assists.

Knights, Moose to face Kenai

PALMER — Colony High School will host a half-dozen soccer games this weekend.

The Knights girls and boys will face Kenai tonight at 4 and 6 p.m. on the CHS field. Palmer will play the Kardinals Saturday at 4 and 6 p.m. at CHS.

The Colony girls will host Seward Saturday at 10 a.m., and the Colony boys will meet South Anchorage Saturday at noon at Colony.