The Juneau-Douglas Superior School: Yadaa.at Kalé women soccer staff clinched a 3-peat at the state match this weekend, amid a flurry of sports activities action that also saw the Thunder Mountain Higher College boys soccer crew acquire initial place at the state tourney and the TMHS women staff and the JDHS boys soccer teams get the 3rd-position ring.
The weekend also introduced 4 observe and subject medals household to Juneau and saw each higher university baseball and softball teams progress to regional contests.
JDHS women soccer
Capping a great season, the Crimson Bears bested the Soldotna Stars 5-1 to earn the Division II title. In the approach, they defeat their have defensive history, conceding only 4 ambitions for the season. The feat resulted in a new point out — and a new university history — which formerly stood at five conceded ambitions for the period.
“Going into the tourney, we felt good,” mentioned JDHS coach Matt Dusenberry in a mobile phone job interview Monday.
He mentioned that the staff benefited from playing cross-town rival TMHS and that a highway journey to the Kenai Peninsula earlier this season gave them viewpoint on the team’s potential customers.
“We felt excellent with how we had been taking part in,” he said. “We had a fairly excellent shot.”
The Crimson Bears are graduating 8 seniors this spring, 7 of whom ended up at the condition closing recreation in 2018 and 2019. Dusenberry mentioned that experienced COVID-19 not derailed the 2020 time, the crew may possibly have been at the point out tournament very last year, as well.
“You have to ponder if these seniors could have gained four decades in a row,” Dusenberry mentioned. “It’s awesome to see seniors set it all alongside one another and seriously glow. Not just successful but really taking part in their best.”
Dusenberry mentioned senior Taylor Bentley built a sizeable contribution to the team’s results this period, specially in the point out finals.
“She was phenomenal,” he said. “What a way to finish her senior calendar year. She scored each game.”
With 15 juniors coming back for following year, Dusenberry claimed the team’s future seems bright.
A flavor of normalcy
Dusenberry said the ladies were being pleased to perform right after the 2020 time was canceled. He noted that the objective of winning the state tournament was not a discussion stage in the course of the year as the workforce was happy to be again on the pitch.
“Last 12 months, we had three practices in advance of the year obtained canceled entirely. That surely altered the team’s perspective. They just take what arrives and make the most of it with regardless of what takes place,” he mentioned.
Dusenberry reported that the team’s journey to Anchorage to contend in the finals supplied a glimpse of normalcy that their earlier street vacation could not deliver.
“We obtained to go to eating places and the shopping mall because vaccination costs are bigger. It was a wonderful ending to the season, as it seemed closer to regular,” he stated, noting that for the duration of the team’s before vacation, COVID protocols needed them to shun eating places in favor of grocery shops and to stay in the lodge when not participating in.
Thunder Mountain ladies end third
With a time record of 4 wins and five losses, the TMHS girls group secured the state’s 3rd-spot end at the state match.
“I assume this was an exceptionally profitable year,” said mentor John Newell in a crew update he shared with the Empire.
“I also enjoy the point that we have been a tiny disappointed we completed 3rd. A several years ago, finishing 3rd at condition appeared like an impossible aim.”
In addition to a prime-three finish for the period, the TMHS workforce received the tutorial award for earning the maximum GPA in the condition.
“I am exceptionally happy of the girls for that,” Newell reported.
Newell also reflected on the way that COVID experienced shaped this year’s soccer period.
“During a pandemic, we were being capable to not only participate in and complete a year, but we had been also capable to travel to both of those Ketchikan with our whole staff and Anchorage with our varsity. That in by itself was a big accomplishment,” he claimed.
Throughout the season, the crew scored 21 aims and gave up 13. On the other hand, all 4 victories were shutouts.
“This follows together with my concept that if the other group doesn’t rating, you can’t get rid of the match,” Newell stated.
• Call reporter Dana Zigmund at [email protected] or 907-308-4891.