The Juneau-Douglas High School girls soccer team slammed Ketchikan High School with five first-half goals Saturday night, cruising to a 9-0 shutout and weekend sweep at Thunder Mountain High School.
JDHS junior Jessie Mayer scored three goals and dished out two assists in the win. She was awarded the team’s “hard hat” after the game, given to a player that exhibited a strong work ethic on the field.
“We talked about the hard hat representing who came to work and it’s not always who represents the stats that pop up, but today it did,” JDHS coach Matt Dusenberry said. “The first couple matches for her haven’t gone the way she had hoped, so things kind of connected for her today.”
JDHS led 5-0 when Mayer scored back-to-back goals in the 44th and 47th minutes.
“We really just took shots and kept taking them and followed through,” said Mayer, who pulled the trigger six times.
Mayer was one of five different Crimson Bears to score in the first half. Sophomore Eva Goering, junior Malia Miller, freshman Taylor Bentley and freshman Jasmin Holst all scored in the first 40 minutes.
“What we’re focusing on is playing at that higher level and playing our hardest and just being able to take runs,” said Goering, who’s already scored six goals this season.
The sophomore scored perhaps her most memorable goal this season in the 21st minute.
Senior Marlena Romanoff crossed the ball to Goering stationed right in front of Ketchikan goalie Ezrie Anderson. The keeper pounced on the ball but lost possession of it to Goering, who deftly heel kicked it underneath Anderson and into the back of the net for JDHS’ third goal of the night.
She’s the real “heel” … Eva Goering heel kicks this one in for JDHS, now up 5-0. pic.twitter.com/GRIsnMFK0v
— Empire Sports (@akempiresports) April 8, 2018
With nothing going their way and down 9-0, the Kings finally caught a break in the 59th minute when they were given a free kick about 40 yards from goal.
Olivia Kinunen’s kick easily made it to the net, but keeper Shaylin Cesar leaped up with both feet and caught the ball in mid-air. It would stand as the only shot on goal for the Kings.
“It’s frustrating for us to defend for so long and get scored on,” Kayhi coach Neil Kinunen said. “But I’m proud of my girls; they got a great spirit, they never fold, they never give up, they always play with a smile and a good attitude. That goes a long way but we would definitely like to have a little bit more success against Juneau-Douglas.”
With the win, Cesar earned her 16th career shutout, good for second all-time in program history. Former JDHS keeper Kayla Walton holds the all-time record for most career shutouts at JDHS with 23.
JDHS takes on West Anchorage High School at Adair Kennedy Memorial Field at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 19 and 8:45 a.m. Saturday, April 21.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.
