WHS boys start trip with win

NIKISKI — The Wasilla Warriors enjoyed a nice start to their big three-day weekend on the Kenai Peninsula.

Six different players scored as Wasilla grabbed a 7-1 Northern Lights Conference boys soccer win over the Nikiski Bulldogs at Nikiski High School on Thursday.

“It was nice to come out and play with a high intensity level,” Wasilla head coach Blake Livingston said by cellphone from Nikiski after the win. “We shared the ball, played as a team.”

Chance Morrison led the Warriors with a pair of goals. Oleg Lozko, Rell Sturdevant, Ethan Keenan, Cash McGregor and Elijah Crawford also scored for the Warriors. Kyler Perry led the Warriors with a pair of assists. McGregor, Keenan and Aaron Brown also assisted on WHS goals.

Corey Hogan earned the win in the Wasilla net.

Lozko scored within the first five minutes of regulation to give Wasilla the early lead. Wasilla took a 2-0 lead into intermission, but struck for three goals within the first 10 minutes of the second half.

The Wasilla boys were able to grab the lopsided victory, but Nikiski upset the Wasilla girls 3-2 earlier in the day.

Nikiski’s Morgan Tschida scored during the final minute of regulation to lift the Bulldogs to the 3-2 win.

The goal came after Wasilla scored twice in the second half to tie the score.

Bailey Buchholz and Tschida scored during the first half to give Nikiski the 2-0 lead.

“We were in their end 90 percent of the time, but they were able to get a couple of counter-attacking goals,” Wasilla head coach Patrick O’Neill said by cellphone after the loss.

O’Neill said the play of Nikiski’s goalkeeper was tremendous. The loss comes on the heels of a scoreless tie against Palmer on Tuesday in which the Warriors also faced another tough goalkeeper, Palmer’s Morgan Morfe.

“Between Palmer and Nikiski, we had 35 shots and gave up 7 in the last two games,” O’Neill said. “There are some very good goalies in our region. Palmer’s goalie is exceptional. The Grace (Christian) girl is good. But (the Nikiski goalie) is the best.”

O’Neill said the Nikiski keeper stopped a handful of chances that other keepers would have missed.

Wasilla seniors Nikki Vanni and Erin Murray scored in the second half for Wasilla. Murray’s game-tying goal came with 15 minutes left to play.

Bears sweep Knights

PALMER — The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears scored a pair of tough nonconference victories over the Colony Knights on Thursday at Colony High.

Despite a 2-1 loss, Colony girls coach Lorie Miner was pleased about her team’s play against one of the state’s top programs.

“Juneau is great. They’re tough. They’ve got speed, good ball skills, but our girls really held to it,” Miner said.

Senior Brittany Anderson scored in the second half to give the Knights a 1-0 lead, but Juneau was able to answer with a pair of goals later in the half.

“It was a well-played game. Both teams were evenly matched,” Miner said. “I’m always thrilled to play Juneau. It’s a good gauge to where we stand.”

The Juneau boys also scored a 2-1 win.

Earlier in the week, Anderson scored six times to lead the Colony girls to a 10-0 win over Houston.

Grace sweeps Moose

ANCHORAGE — Grace Christian scored a pair of prep soccer wins over Palmer on Thursday in Anchorage.

The Grace boys edged Palmer 1-0. Grace Christian beat the Palmer girls 3-1. Kelsey Cost scored the lone goal for the Moose.

Hawks fall in Homer

HOMER — The Houston Hawks suffered a pair of losses at Homer High School on Thursday.

The Homer boys earned a 6-1 win and Homer beat the Wasilla girls 5-0.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.