A run at the soccer state championship wasn’t in the cards for the Juneau-Douglas High School boys this year.
The Crimson Bears did everything they could — dominating the midfield against Kenai — according to coach Gary Lehnhart, but ultimately fell to 1-0 in the first round of the Alaska School Acivities A Soccer State Championships.
“I told the guys afterward that they really couldn’t do much else, other than figure out a way to get it into the net,” Lehnhart said after the game.
Kenai midfielder Luke Beiser scored the winning goal off a throw-in from junior Zack Tuttle in the 29th minute, using all of his 6-foot-4 build to head the ball into Juneau-Douglas’ net.
JDHS shots hit just about everywhere on the goal frame, Lehnhart said, but the Crimson Bears couldn’t break through Kenai’s defense for the equalizer.
“It’s really disappointing, I am sad for the guys, they deserved a better outcome. But that’s soccer, too,” Lehnhart said. “It’s a game that’s based on getting that ball in the net and sometimes you can dominate a game and not ever get it into the net, and that’s what happened to us.”
Lehnhart credited a stout defense from Kenai’s central defenders for holding his team scoreless. Though Lehnhart felt JDHS dominated the midfield, the connection over the top between Kenai’s back line and their attack gave the Crimson Bears trouble.
This is JDHS second year in a row bouncing out in the first round. They lost to rivals South Anchorage last year in a penalty shoot out.
JDHS 4, Homer 1
Bounced to the consolation bracket, the JDHS boys took a 4-1 win from Homer on Friday to head to the fourth-place game Saturday morning.
They played Dimond after press time Saturday morning. Look for coverage of that game in Monday’s Empire.
• Contact reporter Kevin Gullufsen at kevin.gullufsen@juneauempire.com or 523-2228.
