The Juneau-Douglas High School boys soccer team was unable to recover from a 2-1 first-half deficit Saturday morning at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field, losing 3-1 to West Anchorage High School.
It was the third game of the week in which JDHS’ opponent built a first-half lead that proved too much for the Crimson Bears to recover from. JDHS lost to Kenai 1-0 on Thursday before falling in their first meeting with West Anchorage 3-1 on Friday.
“I think we were right there,” JDHS sophomore Kaiden Wilshusen said. “I don’t think the scoreline shows how we played, but it was just unlucky, we broke down defensively a couple of times.”
West’s Emmanuel Tobey and JDHS’ Bryson Mitchell traded goals early before Eagles forward Aurel Cani put the Eagles up 2-1 in the 33rd minute.
Cani again gave the JDHS defense fits early in the second half. Cani barely beat JDHS defenseman Ben Campbell in a foot race to the ball before abruptly stopping and scoring from 10 yards out to put West up 3-1.
“Our front two strikers are probably a couple of the best in the state,” West coach Laef Eggan said. “As long as they get good service, good things can happen. Earlier in the season, we just weren’t finding them. So we’re starting now to get more of a familiarity.”
The Eagles, who improved to 4-5-0, lost on Thursday to Ketchikan before playing three games in two days in Juneau.
As tiring as five games in a week (the Eagles also played on Wednesday) can be, Eggan said the experience will help his squad in the postseason when a team will play games in consecutive days.
“Historically you’re going to have to play three games in a row,” Eggan said of the state tournament. “One thing about getting your starters as many minutes is to feel that kind of pressure and fatigue … and then have the rest of your team when called upon do the job that needs to be done at that time.”
West played Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday evening.
JDHS plays four games on the road next week. The boys play Service on Wednesday, Palmer on Thursday, Wasilla on Friday and East Anchorage on Saturday.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com.
