Wasilla wins NLC girls soccer title

WASILLA — School history came in dramatic fashion Saturday afternoon.

The Wasilla Warriors used a 1-0 shootout victory over Kenai Central to earn their first Northern Lights Conference girls’ soccer title in program history.

Junior Lindsey Cizek netted the game-winner in the shootout, lifting a shot high into the Kenai net before the Warriors broke into celebration on the host Kardinals’ field at Kenai Central High School.

“I’m really proud of the girls. This is pretty special,” Wasilla head coach Patrick O’Neill said by cellphone after the win.

Wasilla and Kenai played 100 minutes worth of scoreless soccer prior to the shootout. And the tiebreaker, settled by penalty kicks, was just about as close. The Warriors and Kards were tied 4-4 in penalty kicks before Cizek stepped up to the ball. Alia Donley, Phoebe Christiansen, Alexis Friesen and Jodie Richey also scored during the shootout.

A pair of goalkeepers also factored into the win for the Warriors. Olivia Matson, Wasilla’s regular starter, played the full 100 minutes before Wasilla turned to reserve Aleks Kvalheim who stood in net for the shootout.

“We wanted (Kenai) to think twice a little bit,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill praised the work of both of his keepers in a match where goalkeeping on both sides was key.

“Olivia played great, scooped up everything. She played really solid back there,” O’Neill said.

Goalkeeping was part of one factor that really stands out for O’Neill.

“The defense played great,” O’Neill said of his team, which allowed only one goal in three region tournament games. “Our back line has been playing really solid.”

Improving the defense was a focal point for the Warriors this season, O’Neill said.

“We knew if we wanted to win a championship, we’d have to play better defense,” O’Neill said.

The Warriors allowed 59 goals last season. This year, Wasilla has allowed only 20.

“Overall, it was just a gutsy performance. Three games in three days with that type of intensity. They’re tired, but they’re happy,” O’Neill said.

Wasilla earned its third straight trip to the state tournament with its semifinal victory Friday. Colony also scored a spot in the state tournament with a 2-1 win over Soldotna in the girls’ third-place game Saturday morning. Jazlyn Nino and Rina Inagaki each scored for the Knights to keep Colony’s season alive. Maddy Zmuda made nine saves for the Knights in the Colony goal.

All-Northern Lights Conference

Girls MVP — Peyton Johnstone, Colony.

Boys MVP — Ben Sande, Colony

Girls first team:

Kylie Morse, Kenai; Alia Donley, Wasilla; Abi Tuttle, Soldotna; Gabby Wakaliuk, Colony; Alli Steinbeck, Kenai; Maddie Kindred, Soldotna; Hayley Hagen, Grace; Sam Draves, Homer; Dory Schneider, Palmer; Cori Holmes, Kenai; Ally Hull, Wasilla; Kiley Fish, Palmer; Maddy Morgan, Grace.

Girls second team:

Alexis Friesen, Wasilla; Desi Molina, Palmer; Abby Crawford, Wasilla; Kim Schaezloin, Grace; Brianna Vollertsen, Nikiski; Miki McMullen, Colony; Uliana Reutov, Homer; Sahara Iverson, Colony; Anna Wrobel, Soldotna; Brenna McCarron, Homer; Megan Pitzman, Homer; Hannah Drury, Kenai; Lara Creighton, Kenai; Kaylee Mahler, Colony; Gurpreet Singh, Palmer; Victoria Malak, Wasilla; Alyssa Wolfe, Soldotna; Hannah Love, Nikiski

Boys first team:

Zack Tuttle, Kenai; Brandon Banks, Palmer; Cade Johnstone, Colony; Daniel Beltran, Kodiak; Kyle Broach, Wasilla; Max Dye, Kenai; Dylan Kuntz, Soldotna; Emerson Portillo, Kodiak; Nazai Pavlus, Wasilla; Nick Snow, Grace; Charles Rohr, Homer; Eric Mayoral, Soldotna; Jose Cortez, Kodiak.

Boys second team:

Alex Valdez, Colony; Josh Spannagel, Colony; Simon Dye, Homer; Nouredine Mama, Homer; Ean Atchley, Kenai; Kevin Ramos, Kenai; Cameron Shaw, Colony; Tristan Landry, Kenai; Timmy Smithwick, Soldotna; Caleb Woods, Grace; Tommy Florez, Soldotna; Nikita Antonov, Wasilla; Braydon Goodman, Kenai; Tim Voloshin, Wasilla; Julio Rodriguez, Kodiak; John Burton, Palmer.