JDHS player Gabe Cheng drives down the field with the ball during a tight game against TMHS on April 23, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

JDHS player Gabe Cheng drives down the field with the ball during a tight game against TMHS on April 23, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

TMHS and JDHS tie 4-4 in fierce match

It’s been a bruising and competitive season so far.

The boys soccer teams of Juneau fought to a draw Saturday, ending with a 4-4 tie game.

The game comes in the early-to-mid season for what should be a contentious season of soccer, said Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé coach Gary Lehnhart.

“I think they’re all going to be like that. These kids have known each other a long time and they used to play together. It’s a good rivalry,” Lehnhart said in a phone interview. “I think each game is going to be close. The first two certainly have been. Both have gone right to the last second.”

[2022 cruise season begins]

JDHS has two wins and two ties this season so far, against TMHS’ 1-1-1 record.

“It was by far better than our first game. We had a massive chemistry disruption. It was heads over tails better. It was hard-fought, hard-pace, high-intensity,” said Thunder Mountain High School assistant coach Josh Odom in a phone interview. “It was the hard first loss that brought them together. They expected more of themselves.”

JDHS and TMHS fought to a deadlocked 4-4 tie on Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

JDHS and TMHS fought to a deadlocked 4-4 tie on Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

TMHS led 2-1 at the half as both teams vied for the win.

“We just had our two game stretch in Ketchikan. They were physical games. We’re four games into the season and we’ve won two and tied two. We feel like we’ve gotten off to a good start,” Lehnhart said. “It’s always hard to play in Ketchikan and come back and play the next day.”

JDHS is fielding a class-balanced team this year, Lehnhart said.

“Last year we were really really young. We only graduated two seniors. This year we have a pretty good senior class. We have a nice mix to be honest. We have a couple freshman starting which is unusual. We have a strong junior class which is the core,” Lehnhart said. “I think the future is bright. The JVs started well. It’s one of the best freshman classes we’ve had in a few years. Feeling good about that.”

TMHS is more senior heavy at the moment, Odom said, predicting a transitional year next year.

“We’re losing quite a bit of our upperclassmen next year. Ideally, we’re trying to get a lot of exposure for our younger kids,” Odom said. “We had two or three underclassmen play in that last game. They’ve got big shoes to fill. They’ve got to take the reins.”

This week will be a week for recuperating and readying for the next game, Lehnhart said, as players come back from injuries and focuses on improving their coordination and arrangement. Two major players, including the team’s starting goalkeeper, are already out for the season from injuries, Lehnhart said.

“Four goals is too many. That’s the first thing. We need to shore that up and not put ourselves in a position where we have to score four. That’s part of what happens when you lose a couple kids,” Lehnhart said. “We’ve got a bit of a lighter week this week. We’ll get healthy and retool a bit.”

For TMHS, Odom said, next year will be a very different equation as the team loses many of its upperclassmen.

“The next year is going to be the big one. It’ll be a fundamental year,” Odom said. “It’ll be a transitional year for sure.”

At JDHS, eagerness is running high for the rest of the season, which will see another Saturday match against TMHS, and a weekend of games in Anchorage the following weekend.

“In this program, the goal is always to win it all. We’ve been in the final game, for the 20 years it’s been run, maybe 13-14 times,” Lehnhart said. “That’s always the goal. To get to that final game and win it.”

The next week will be a big one, Odom said, with many teams tied in their wins, losses, and ties.

“Everything is tied up for everyone going in,” Odom said. “This is going to be the tell all week, This is the big week for the season.”

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

More in Sports

Fairbanks’ first real winter storm of October 2024 left behind an uncommon wet, slushy mess. (Photo by Bobby Bianco)
Alaska Science Forum: The numbers behind a weather forecast

A meteorologist from the National Weather Service’s local office recently told a… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors Parker Boman, Lucia Chapell and Brooklyn Kanouse sport the teams new official JDHS Crimson Bears swim caps during practice Tuesday at Augustus Brown Pool in preparation for the Region V Swim & Dive Championships in Petersburg this weekend. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
‘Water’s water’ as swim team prepares for region championships

Tapering and secrecy lead to records set and championships won

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé volleyball coach Jody Levernier looks on as Crimson Bears seniors Evelyn Richards, senior Lavinia Ma’ake, sophomore June Troxel and junior Braith Dihle work a drill in practice Tuesday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Volleyball team hits highs and lows on road trip

Crimson Bears staying positive after multiple games in Anchorage

The Juneau Huskies competition cheer team pose for a photo at last weekend’s 2024 Rally in the Valley Cheer Competition at Palmer’s Colony High School. Back row left to right: Assistant coach Rob Day, Savannah Cornett Markey, Avery Cornett Markey, Marzena Whitmore, Kajson Cunningham, Gracie Kohuth, assistant coach Katelyn Kohuth and head coach Stephany Day. Middle row l-r: Faith Montez, Rylie Mulkey, Ayla Keller, Tenlee Roemer, Samantha Day and Elijah Levy. Front row l-r: Assistant coach Vanessa Aube, Rory Love and Viviana Flores. (Photo courtesy Samantha Day).
Cheer teams are G… R… E… A… T… Great, great, great

JDHS football and JYFL cheerleading teams earn state awards

Be safe, stay together, be respectful, share your treats but not your tricks, have fun, and get outside on Halloween. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Pure Sole: Don’t Open The Door

A cowboy, a pirate and the pope walk into a bar… Nope,… Continue reading

Extremes of the colour gradient of the Eastern San Antonio frog (Hyla orientalis). On the left, a specimen captured in Chernobyl inside the high contamination zone; on the right, a specimen captured outside the Exclusion Zone. (Germán Orizaola/Pablo Burraco, republished under a Creative Commons license)
On the Trails: Evolution constantly ongoing among many populations in many places

Someone once asked me “Is evolution still happening?” My brief answer was… Continue reading

Participants race in the Halloween Half Marathon and 5K on Saturday along North Douglas Highway. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Nothing scares runners at Halloween Half Marathon

Over 100 ghouls entered in 13.27-mile and 5-kilometer races.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Camden Messmer pins Skagway junior Brenden Moncibaiz in their 119-pound title match on Saturday at the Southeast Showdown Wrestling Tournament in Juneau’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS takes team title as champion grapplers crowned in Southeast Showdown

Top high school wrestlers in the Panhandle gave fans a return to the ultimate showcase in Juneau.

JDHS senior Evelyn Richards (8) serves against Wasilla last weekend. The Crimson Bears fell at East Anchorage on Thursday and will play in the Dimond/Service Tournament on Friday and Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Crimson Bears spikers fall to Thunderbirds on the road

JDHS swept under East Anchorage power net attack

Most Read