Wasilla senior sets goal-scoring record

May 13, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Jordan Ingalls has scored goals on the soccer field in about every conceivable way this season.

The Wasilla High School senior has used long chip balls, breakaways, headers and just plain garbage goals to etch his name into the Wasilla soccer record book.

Ingalls now holds the Wasilla single-season scoring record for the Warrior boys' soccer program, and needed just nine games to eclipse the mark of 17 goals set by former Region III Player of the Year Loren Smith in 2003. Ingalls still has a handful of games to pad his record.

Wasilla head coach Blake Livingston calls Ingalls a natural goal scorer who is both instinctual and opportunistic.

&#8220That's something you can't coach,” Livingston said after Ingalls scored his 19th goal in 10 games in a 3-1 win over Chugiak on Thursday. &#8220He just has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.”

And its more than opportunity for Ingalls. He also possess the ability to convert chances into scores.

&#8220He's obviously very skilled,” Livingston said. &#8220He's super strong in the air. He possesses great speed.”

On Satuday, Ingalls scored twice more against Palmer to push his record tally to 21.

Through the 11th game of the season, Ingalls is averaging almost two goals per contest. He's scored multiple goals in a game eight times this season. And he's only been held scoreless once, in a 0-0 tie against Kenai in the Warriors' fifth game of the season.

Ingalls leads the Northern Lights Conference in scoring, by far. He is the only double-digit scorer in the Valley, and has more goals than entire teams at Palmer and Colony.

Ingalls started his senior season on a tear, posting consecutive hat tricks in the first two games of the season. He added two goals against Nikiski in the Warriors' third game.

&#8220I was thinking then it was going to end soon,” Ingalls said. &#8220Because I had been scoring goals back-to-back in the first half - like snap-snap, really quick.”

But when Ingalls scored twice against Soldotna, he thought he had a legitimate chance of breaking Wasilla's single-season mark.

&#8220When it was 10 goals in four games, I thought, ‘yeah, this could happen,'” Ingalls said.

Ingalls said the thought of breaking the school record crossed his mind even before he stepped onto the pitch for his senior season. He scored 13 goals as a junior, and was off to a great start as a sophomore before suffering an injury.

&#8220It's always been a goal,” Ingalls said, not intending to undermine the team concept. &#8220But it's an individual goal, something I was shooting for.”

But Ingalls also knows his record is also a reflection of the success of the undefeated

Warriors.

&#8220It's not like I take the ball from coast-to-coast,” Ingalls said.

Ingalls is the finisher, but the Warriors have a slew of athletes who are capable of setting the table.

&#8220Four of the goals I scored on the Peninsula were through balls from (midfielder Jimmy Sliwa),” Ingalls said.

Ingalls scored five goals during a two-game road trip to the Kenai Peninsula.

&#8220On our set pieces we score a lot,” Ingalls said.

Each of Ingalls three goals against Colony were set up by throws-ins from sophomore Aaron Sharrow.

&#8220It's just something we work on,” Ingalls said.

Ingalls is also a standout on the ice for WHS, as a member of the Warrior hockey team. He said he's skated for just about as long as he's played soccer, but is certainly leaning toward soccer as his sport of choice.

&#8220I've just taken a liking to soccer,” Ingalls said. &#8220I like the environment more.”

At one point, Ingalls said he thought about working toward the next level of hockey, but now would like to pursue soccer at the college level.

Regardless of his choice, one sport has helped him in

another.

&#8220They kind of play hand-in-hand,” Ingalls said.

Livingston feels Ingalls' abilities as a hockey player have helped him on the soccer field.

&#8220Hockey definitely contributes to some of the things he's able to do,” Livingston said. &#8220It translates well for sure.”

Comparing the two, Ingalls said it's harder to be a goal scorer in hockey.

&#8220In soccer I get more opportunities,” Ingalls said. &#8220In hockey, it's kind of like you are everywhere. In soccer, it's my job to score. I'm waiting for the through balls, or I am checking back and making things happen up top. In hockey, you have to work harder for the goals.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.