After welcoming two non-conference opponents to Juneau the past two weekends, it’s the Juneau-Douglas High School boys soccer team’s turn to hit the road.
The Crimson Bears head to Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley for games against Service on Wednesday, followed by games against Chugiak, Wasilla and Dimond the following three days. Playing four games in four days won’t be easy, but their win Saturday against South Anchorage gives the team the confidence boost it needed as it heads into enemy territory.
JDHS’ 2-1 loss against South on Thursday night was the third game in a row it’d fallen by just one goal.
Needless to say, the boys team was happy to put an end to that mini-streak Saturday with a 2-0 win over the Wolverines at the Adair-Kennedy Field.
“Every one was really happy,” senior Salar Peirovi said. “We were kind of on a losing streak there so it was good to get one back and take a step in the right direction.”
[Photos: JDHS v. South Anchorage boys soccer]
Brysen Mitchell, Ernie Ramos and Ken Goetz all return to the lineup for JDHS after extended absences, helping provide that second-wind the team desperately missed against a high-caliber West Valley team.
Ben Carter scored just 10 minutes into the game just outside the goalie box to put JDHS up early.
South intensified its attack but goalie Jaime Moreno stopped all five shots sent his way in the first half. Head coach Gary Lehnhart said the team was lucky to keep a one-goal lead at halftime.
The biggest score of the game — and the one that validated Lehnhart’s extra time in practice last week on headers — arrived in the 50th minute.
JJ Mosher’s corner kick found the cranium of Michael White, who headed it past the South keeper and put Juneau up two goals. It was the first goal of the whole season the Crimson Bears scored on a header.
“We spent the whole week in practice working on heading beacuse our whole week versus West Valley we were pretty poor in the air,” Lehnhart said.
Both above everything else, Salar and Lehnhart were just happy to see the team together again.
“I think everyone played a great game today,” Peirovi said.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
Juneau-Douglas’ Cahal Morehouse steals a ball from South’s Adam Skelton at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field on Thursday, April 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
