Juneau-Douglas’ Malia Miller, center, fires a shot toward the goal between Thunder Mountain’s Kiah Dihle, left, and Isabella Hanna at TMHS on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. JDHS won 5-0. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Malia Miller, center, fires a shot toward the goal between Thunder Mountain’s Kiah Dihle, left, and Isabella Hanna at TMHS on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. JDHS won 5-0. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls continue unbeaten streak

Miller heats up in shutout

Juneau-Douglas senior Malia Miller scored four goals in a 5-0 win over Thunder Mountain on Wednesday night at Thunder Mountain High School.

With the win, JDHS improved to 7-0 on the season, extending their shutout win streak to 11 games dating back to last season. Thunder Mountain fell to 0-2 with the loss.

Miller, last week’s MaxPrep’s Alaska Player of the Week, leads the state with 16 goals this season, having scored in all but one game for the undefeated Crimson Bears.

Juneau-Douglas’ Brianna Jokerst, left, and Thunder Mountain’s Keana Villanueva battle for the ball at TMHS on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. JDHS won 5-0. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Brianna Jokerst, left, and Thunder Mountain’s Keana Villanueva battle for the ball at TMHS on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. JDHS won 5-0. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

“She’s always been a special player, even before high school, but she certainly is having a nice little clip of games right now,” JDHS coach Matt Dusenberry said.

[PHOTOS: See photos from the Wednesday night action here]

Sophomore Taylor Bentley opened the scoring for JDHS around the 15th minute, converting on a free kick outside the penalty box.

Miller added to the JDHS lead a few minutes later on a long pass from freshman Blake Plummer. The playmaking freshman dribbled the ball along the far sideline and passed it up to Miller, who raced up the perimeter of the field while several defenders gave chase. With just plenty of field in front of her, Miller struck the ball into the right corner of the net.

Thunder Mountain’s Emily Heaton, right, attempts to block Juneau-Douglas’ Blake Plummer from the ball at TMHS on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. JDHS won 5-0. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain’s Emily Heaton, right, attempts to block Juneau-Douglas’ Blake Plummer from the ball at TMHS on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. JDHS won 5-0. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

She was only getting started.

Miller scored her team’s next three goals, two unassisted, and one from senior Brianna Jokerst.

[Here’s how the boys’ Wednesday night games went]

Despite not scoring any goals, TMHS coach John Newell was happy with his team’s play, and excited with the direction they are headed.

“Obviously, JD is a very good team as evident by none of the Division I teams being able to score on the either,” Newell said via text message Thursday. “Even so, my girls were able to hold quite a bit of possession, had some really good passing sequences and played some very good-looking soccer. They are a young squad that is improving rapidly and I’m looking forward to seeing where they are at as a team by the end of the season.”

JDHS plays against Homer on Friday at 6:15 p.m. at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field. TMHS takes on Ketchikan at 8 p.m. at TMHS later in the night.


• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.


More in Sports

This painting, “Abandonment of the Whalers in The Arctic Ocean September 1871,” depicts the New England whaling ships trapped in pack ice off northern Alaska. Wainwright Inlet is in the background. (Photo courtesy Ted and Ellie Congdon, Huntington Library)
Alaska Science Forum: When the Civil War came to Alaska

About 150 years ago, a few days after summer solstice, the gray… Continue reading

The brands you wear don’t always say a lot about your political stance and moral compass. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
I Went to the Woods: Passive activism

I almost didn’t watch the Super Bowl because I was tired of… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain Middle School wrestler Matvii Kozodoi works a move against schoolmate Caleb Demmert during the inaugural Thunder Mountain Mayhem Team Duels Wrestling Tournament Feb. 1. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain to host first-ever regional middle school wrestling tournament starting Friday

More than 230 wrestlers from 11 communities expected at two-day event.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mary Johnson protects the ball from Wasilla junior Mielee Merchant (4) and senior Mylee Anderson (14) during a Crimson Bears loss to the Warriors last weekend in the George Houston Gymnasium. JDHS will host Ketchikan at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS girls to host Kayhi for final conference games

Crimson Bears invite Lady Kings to their den Thursday, Friday

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Ahmir Parker (2) guards Ketchikan senior Marcus Stockhausen (34) during their series early in the season at JDHS. Parker has been a "jack-of-all-trades" for the Crimson Bears this season. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Crimson Bears boys taking on Kings at Ketchikan

JDHS playing final Southeast Conference games on the road.

The author in one of his favorite pastimes — sitting in the mountains. (Photo courtesy Becky Bohrer)
Pure Sole: My Mudrooms

A friend of mine from the Haa Yaitx’u Saiani’s Kin Support Program… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Nordic Ski Team member Ida Meyer competes at the Region VI Championships Friday in Fairbanks. Meyer placed seventh overall in the girls 7.5km Mass Start. The JDHS girls team placed second in the two-day regions, the boys third. JDHS senior Finn Lamb led the Crimson Bears boys with a sixth place finish in the 7.5km. (Photo courtesy JDHS Nordic Ski)
JDHS Crimson Bears take snow show on the road

Nordic Ski Team girls second, boys third at Region VI Championships.

Twigs of red huckleberry are green all year, but brighter in summer than winter. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
On the Trails: Tree bark

The center of a tree or shrub stem (from roots to trunk,… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka (14) floats a jump shot over Wasilla senior Layla Hays (52) during the Crimson Bears’ 46-30 loss Saturday to the Warriors in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A small Layla, a tall Layla give highlight plays on Saturday

JDHS’ Tokuoka, Wasilla’s Hays key second matchup of the weekend as Warriors prevail 46-30.

Most Read