Wasilla High player wins national youth soccer title

WASILLA — A rising star in Valley soccer helped an Alaska team accomplish a rare feat.

Wasilla High School incoming senior Alexa Starr scored the game-winning goal to help lead the Cook Inlet Soccer Club Velocity 97 team to a 5-1 win over the Texas-based GSA Force in the U17 girls championship game of the U.S. Youth Soccer National President’s Cup in Greenville, S.C., earlier this week.

“It’s a pretty good feeling, especially being from Alaska. It’s not really heard of,” Starr said Wednesday afternoon.

Starr, a three-year varsity starter on the Wasilla High girls’ soccer squad, is in her first season with the Anchorage-based competitive soccer club. As she traveled with her new team to the Tier II national tournament in South Carolina, Starr said she was not sure what to expect.

“For me, it’s a different experience. (My teammates) are used to winning. It’s a huge deal for me,” Starr said.

Starr has had the opportunity to compete in showcase events and tournaments outside of Alaska for several years. Competing in a national tournament, and winning a championship, is much greater than anything she’s experienced, Starr said.

“This has to be No. 1 on the list. Being able to win it was pretty cool,” Starr said.

Starr also played an integral role in the victory.

Starr and her teammates trailed 1-0 late in the first half, victims of an own-goal. Velocity 97 was able to tie the game just prior to halftime.

Early in the second half, Starr scored to give her squad the 2-1 lead. Starr, a starter in the center-midfield, was moved to forward early in the second half. After scoring, what would be the game-winner, Starr moved back to her center-mid position.

“It’s definitely awesome,” Starr said of the experience. “All the effort that went in, the commute, it was all worth it.”

Starr said she’s excited to help bring a national title back to Alaska, and represent the Valley. Competing on the Cook Inlet club squad has required a commitment. After joining the team during the winter, Starr made the commute to Anchorage three or four times per week during the school year. This summer, Starr is in Anchorage four mornings per week at 9 a.m. for practice. She plays in games about two evenings per week.

“I knew I wanted to go as far as I can (in soccer). Moving into Anchorage (to play) is what I thought I had to do,” Starr said.

Starr is the only Valley player on her team.

“The competition is a lot better. All the girls are really talented,” Starr said.

Most of her Anchorage teammates play high school soccer for schools such as South, Service and Dimond. Starr said there are even a few Division I commits on the team.

Starr said, during tryouts, it was intimidating to be the Valley girl trying to break onto the Anchorage squad.

“Once I got there and started to contribute, I think they saw me as someone who’s an asset to the team,” Starr said.

Starr also became a starter immediately.

Starr has been playing soccer since she was 8. She said she saw soccer on television, and told her mom she wanted to try.

“It’s just been a part of my life,” Starr said. “It keeps me motivated to do well in school.”

Starr said her longterm goal, and priority, is to earn a scholarship and the chance to play Division I soccer. It’s been her focus since she was a freshman at WHS. Starr has been traveling Outside for tournaments and showcase events since she was an eighth-grader.

“I know I want to play at a higher level,” Starr said.

Wasilla High School girls soccer head coach Patrick O’Neill, Starr’s coach during her three years at WHS, said he firmly believes Starr has the ability, and potential, to play Division I soccer.

During her three seasons with the WHS varsity program, O’Neill said, Starr has scored 42 goals. She posted 11 as a freshman, eight as a sophomore and 23 as a junior, O’Neill said.

Since Starr joined the Cook Inlet program, O’Neill said he’s certainly been able to see her grow and develop as a player.

“The biggest improvement is with her vision on the field and ability to distribute. She’s such a strong player, and when surrounded by stronger players on a team like Cook Inlet, there’s no need for her to do more than just her job,” O’Neill said. “She is able to pass the ball, see the field better. There are better touches on her passes. That’s a reflection of the level she’s playing at, the coaching she has year-round.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.