WHS forces tie with late kick

WASILLA — Any extra pressure didn’t seem to bother Paul Sliwa.

The Wasilla sophomore converted a penalty kick with three minutes left in regulation to force a 1-1 tie against the Soldotna Stars at Wasilla High School on Saturday.

“He’s cool-headed,” Wasilla head coach Blake Livingston said. “He handles pressure well.”

Sliwa knocked the penalty kick past Soldotna goalkeeper Daniel Geller into the lower right side of the Stars net to push the Warriors to 6-2-2 overall this season.

After Soldotna’s Blaine Carver scored to give the Stars the lead during the 13th minute, the Northern Lights Conference rivals played nearly 64 minutes of scoreless soccer before the Sliwa penalty kick.

The Warriors held a Soldotna squad that had posted a combined eight goals during wins over Palmer and Colony earlier in the week to just one score on Saturday, but what impressed Livingston most, he said, was his team’s play late in the match.

“The pushed really hard in the last few minutes,” Livingston said, while noting that junior Borja Angoitia nearly netted a game-winning score.

Wasilla 2, Grace 1

WASILLA — Angoitia and Alex Solovyov scored to give Wasilla a 2-1 win over Grace Christian at Wasilla High School on Friday.

Sophomore goalkeeper Eli Tingstad earned the win in Wasilla net.

The Warriors return to action Saturday to face rival Colony High.

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