With two keys seniors back for the Juneau-Douglas High School boys soccer team, one would figure Friday night’s win against Ketchikan would be a lot easier than it ended up being.
With JJ Mosher and Sherrod Miller out for JDHS’ May 4-5 road sweep (4-1, 4-0) of the Kings, it would figure having the two back at home would equate to even more lopsided wins.
Not so fast. With a strong closing to the first half and some saves in net in the second, the Kings lost just 1-0 Friday.
“These are bigger games in the mind than one would think they are based on our stats in the past,” JDHS’ Ben Carter said.
The Crimson Bears scored early in the first half on an own goal by Brandon Corporon. Mosher’s corner kick flew just inside the goal area when it deflected off the senior and into the net.
Instead of bowing out of the game though, the Kings played with more purpose in the ensuing minutes. Ketchikan’s Brayden Linne’s activity in the midfield kept the Crimson Bears’ backline on their toes.
Still, Miller said having a full team feels right even if it didn’t show up on the scoreboard.
“I think the biggest difference was having two of our players — Sherrod and JJ — back for this weekend. It makes a new dynamic. In practices we know what we’re doing,” Carter said.
The Crimson Bears played Ketchikan on Saturday night.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or at nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com
JDHS boys soccer coach Gary Lehnhart talks to his team at halftime Friday in their game against Ketchikan. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Ketchikan goaltender Lukas Oswald swats the ball away from Michael White Friday at Adair-Kennedy as JDHS’ Ben Undurraga looks on. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
