Wasilla girls can't catch a break

April 29, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH

Frontiersman

WASILLA - In soccer, there's only one thing better than getting quality chances on goal - converting them.

Wasilla's girls learned that lesson the hard way Friday night against Soldotna, as the Warriors outshot the Stars yet fell 2-1 in a Northern Lights Conference game at Wasilla High School.

&#8220I would say the post was our biggest enemy tonight,” Wasilla head coach Katie Broeder said following the game.

The Warriors (2-2-0) banged two shots off the crossbar and failed to convert twice on close-range free kick opportunities. Their only goal came on a penalty kick by Randi Smith in the 47th minute.

SoHi (1-1-0) took a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the game when midfielder Mikala Smith launched a looping shot from just outside the box that found the top right corner.

The score remained that way through the rest of the half, despite several good chances from Wasilla, including near-misses by Courtney Husmann, Haley George, Rachel Kennedy and Smith.

Wasilla finally got on the board after Kennedy was hauled down in the box, resulting in a penalty. Smith calmly knocked the ball past SoHi keeper Becky Warton to draw level.

The game looked like it was headed for a draw until three minutes past regular time, when SoHi's Emily Rohloff somehow got her toe on the ball during a mad scramble in front and converted the game-winner.

With just seconds left, Wasilla got one last chance to pull out a tie when Smith broke free on a breakaway off the ensuing kick-off. But her shot went just over the goal, enabling the Stars to sneak off with the win.

&#8220I don't know how (Rohloff's goal) went in and how that one at their end didn't,” SoHi coach Jimmy Love said following the game. &#8220But hey, sometimes you've gotta get the ball to bounce your way.”

The loss negated solid efforts from several Wasilla players, including the tandem of Smith and Kennedy up front. The two forwards consistently put pressure on the SoHi defense, yet could not come up with scores.

&#8220We just need to work on finishing our shots,” Broeder said.

The Warriors also did well containing Mikala Smith, SoHi's speedy midfielder. George was solid on the back line, while midfielders Husmann, Britta Hanson and Nicole Duque all did a good job of shadowing SoHi's best player.

Broeder said she wasn't displeased with the way her team performed, but said the SoHi game showed the Warriors still have plenty of work left to do if they want to contend in the conference.

&#8220We just had a hard time with our offense clicking,” she said. &#8220I think there's definitely some things we need to work on.”

On Saturday, the iron was again unkind to the Warriors, as a potential game-tying goal clanked off the frame for the second consecutive game.

Kenai Central freshman Casey Coupchiak scored in the 62nd minute to lead the Kardinals to a 1-0 Northern Lights Conference win over Wasilla Saturday.

Wasilla nearly knotted the score five minutes later, but Csesalie Lease's shot from just inside the box rattled off the crossbar.

The loss dropped the Warriors to 2-3-0 on the season, while Kenai improved to 2-0-1.

Kenai girls 1, Wasilla 0

Scoring: Kenai- Coupchiak (62)

Cards: Wasilla- Husmann (yellow)

Soldotna girls 2, Wasilla 1

Scoring: Soldotna- Smith (7), Rohloff (80). Wasilla- Smith (47).

Cards: None.