Thunder Mountain High School senior Cierra McCain scored two goals in the senior class’s final high school game Tuesday night at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park.
Barring a remarkable second-half goal by Juneau-Douglas High School freshman Taylor Bentley, it would’ve been enough to secure a win over the Crimson Bears.
Instead, the crosstown rivals tied, and JDHS now prepares for the state soccer tournament next weekend. Before that, they’ll head south to play two games against Ketchikan High School on Friday and Saturday. The Crimson Bears secured the Southeast Conference’s single state tournament berth with its May 7 win over TMHS.
JDHS senior Marlena Romanoff, one of seven seniors honored for Senior Night, scored in the 15th minute before McCain’s electrifying goals in the 21st and 28th minutes.
TMHS sophomore keeper Karson Sutak posted 16 saves, including 11 in the second half, but couldn’t do much with Bentley’s rocket goal in the 48th minute.
Junior Nikki Box went off with a red card in the first half, and JDHS coach Matt Dusenberry was down a player for the entire second half.
“Kudos to the girls to play a player down and I think that stats show we were giving it our best effort in that second half,” Dusenberry said.
TMHS coach John Newell says he’s coached most of his senior class since the time they entered middle school. He said it’s a bit emotional now that he won’t get to coach them anymore.
“It’s just fun to see a good game like that and have all the girls come out and play that hard,” Newell said.
The Crimson Bears graduate seven seniors, four of which are in their first year with the program. The seniors are Romanoff, Gillian Smith, Leah Bibb, Bianca Eagan, Morgan Balovich, Cassie Dzinich and Katja Steinmann.
The Falcons graduate Raye Coffee, Azure Briggs, Kalib Lewis, Ronnie Salter, Anna Rivest, Sienna Hanna, Kayla Duncan and Kalib Lewis.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports at @akempiresports.
Juneau-Douglas’ Marlena Romanoff receives hugs from her parents, Kristen and Andy, for Senior Night at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s keeper Karson Sutak punches the ball away against Juneau-Douglas at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Nikki Box, left, boxes out Thunder Mountain’s Sally Thompson at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Nikki Box has her point-blank shot blocked by Thunder Mountain’s keeper Karson Sutak at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Nicole Mannix, left, drives against Thunder Mountain’s Raye Coffee at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Leah Bibb receives balloons from her mother, Mona, for Senior Night at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
