Juneau-Douglas High School keeper Shaylin Cesar and the girls soccer team continued to shut down opposing offenses in three wins and a draw in Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday friendlies in Southcentral Alaska.
JDHS girls soccer defeated Service 1-0 on Wednesday and Palmer 12-0 on Thursday before tying Wasilla 0-0 on Friday. On Saturday against East Anchorage, the team won 3-0.
Midway through the second half against Service, freshman Taylor Bentley scored on a free kick just outside the box.
“As soon as the referee said she could kick it she put it on the frame and the keeper was a little late getting off the post,” JDHS coach Matt Dusenberry said.
Dusenberry said Service is one of the top Division I (large schools) teams in the state. Last year, they pounded the Crimson Bears 4-0.
“That was fantastic for us and for some of my kids that played last year,” Dusenberry said.
Five different Crimson Bears scored in the 12-0 drubbing of the Palmer Moose the following day. Junior Malia Miller scored four goals, Jessie Mayer had three, Eva Goering and Michaela Bentley each scored two and Taylor Bentley added one.
The team remained in the Mat-Su Valley for another day, and the goals were much harder to come by against the Wasilla Warriors in a 0-0 draw. It’s JDHS’ first tie of the season.
“Wasilla came in physical, big time, and we struggled for a bit matching that intensity,” Dusenberry said. “It’s a mental thing usually on day three with pushing yourself.”
Miller scored all three goals in Saturday’s 3-0 win over East.
Cierra McCain scored four of the five Thunder Mountain High School girls soccer goals in a 5-0 win over Ketchikan on Friday night at Esther Shea Field in Ketchikan.
The Falcons led 3-0 at halftime and added scores by Kayla Duncan and McCain in the second half to put the game away. TMHS coach John Newell challenged his team to score a goal in the first five minutes of the second half, which Duncan did on a through pass from Sally Thompson.
“They went out strong at the start of the second half and that really set the tone,” Newell said.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.
