Juneau-Douglas High School girls soccer coach Matt Dusenberry knew his team was better than their 5-1 loss to South Anchorage Thursday night at Adair-Kennedy Field. They just had to make life a little harder on Jordan Foraker, who scored most the Wolverine’s goals with her swift feet.
The Crimson Bears came up just short again Friday evening against South at Thunder Mountain High School, but it wasn’t for a lack of defensive intensity.
“Yesterday we definitely we shied away from the physical contact and got pushed around a little bit, whereas today we met the challenge and played just as physical,” Dusenberry said.
[PHOTOS: See more photos of Friday night’s game here]
JDHS (3-2) fell 1-0 to the Wolverines Friday night after an early goal by Carin Currier. The sophomore scorer was understandably joyful after the game.
“It’s quite exciting,” Currier said with a big smile about scoring the goal. “Every one makes it such a big deal and it brings up your self-confidence so much.”
She said the goal was just how coach Brian Ferrell drew it up. After receiving a short corner, Currier elevated the ball over the head of Shaylin Cesar and into the top-left corner of the net.
The Crimson Bears now get ready for a marathon week of 320 minutes of soccer that starts Monday at Adair-Kennedy Field against Thunder Mountain and ends Friday in Wasilla.
The four games will test the fitness of the Crimson Bears team that likes to play fast and physical.
In the second half of Friday night’s game, both Erika Holst and Nikki Box were given yellow cards in a span of less than a minute. Both pressured the Wolverines in their zone with hard tackles.
“I think most of the girls on the team are pretty aggressive and will use their bodies to get the ball,” Holst said.
Of all the shots JDHS recorded in the second half, Georgia Robinson’s in the 50th minute was was the closest to a goal. Malia Miller played a nice pass through to Robinson who tried to locate the right post, but her shot was just wide.
Holst thinks the strong second half by JDHS Friday night is a sign of things to come.
“Once we started playing all these games, we started coming together [and] knowing how to play with other people on the team,” Holst said. “It seems like we’re going to have a pretty good season.”
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
Juneau-Douglas’ Marlena Romanoff drives against South at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday, April 21, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
