Dimond’s Tatum Porter. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
About 10 minutes before Saturday morning’s opening kickoff, temperatures hovered in the mid 30s under bright sunshine at West High Alumni Stadium.
The pitch was clean and clear, but for large snow walls a few feet behind each end line. An uniquely-Alaska look, only one spectator watched from the home-standing Eagles’ bleachers while maybe a dozen did on the visitors’ side because of the massive, remaining snowpack. Most witnessed the girls soccer match between Dimond and West from the comfort of lawn chairs along the also snow-free track.
“I’m going to miss it,” Dimond’s Tatum Porter said. “I do kind of like (the scene).”
At the same time, Porter is getting herself prepared for the definite change in her day-to-day conditions at the University of Hawaii. She’ll join the Rainbows of the Big West Conference this summer. It was only 38 degrees warmer in Honolulu at the 10 a.m. start of her team’s 2-0 Cook Inlet Conference win.
“What it means is I’ll have to drink a lot of water, a lot of water and stay on top of my hydration,” she said of the upcoming move from the 49th to the 50th state for college. “I also have to be putting on that sunscreen.
“I’m going to feel the brunt of the (climate) change at first, and then I’ll get used to it and be fine.”
Dimond’s Mai Mateaki dribbles past West’s Ava Smith. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Junior Mai Mateaki and sophomore Kalei Ganotisi scored in the 20th and 70th minutes, respectively, and Porter assisted on both goals. The three-time defending Division I state champion Lynx possessed the ball more than demons do of innocents in horror movies, out-chanced West by a 29-1 count and rebounded efficiently if not robustly after experiencing an unusual loss earlier in the week.
Arch-rival South did in Dimond 2-1 up on Wolverines’ hillside pitch Tuesday, ending the Lynx’s 36-match unbeaten streak dating back to April 2021. The teams also tied 1-1 last year on March 26.
“We wanted to win today, we needed it,” Porter said. “We had to get back into it, even though we kind of dwindled a little in the second half.”
According to Porter, the Lynx never take winning for granted despite all the success.
“I’ve never gone into any (match) thinking we’re going to win,” she said. “It’s the worst way to approach things because you may not try as much if you believe it’s just going to happen.”
The loss to undefeated South jolted Dimond with some reality.
“We now know what it’s like to lose,” Porter said. “No one wants to feel that way again. I definitely don’t.”
West’s Maria Guerra and Dimond’s Parker Sullivan race for the ball. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
The Lynx improved to 6-1-0 with Saturday’s win. West dropped to 2-4-0 but should take some solace in the less-lopsided score this time versus a 10-0 demolishing at the hands of Dimond late last month.
“Don’t bring up the score, would you?” said West junior goalkeeper Maggie Cox, who was credited with seven saves. “That was our first (match) of the season and it was pretty rough.”
It’s been a busy week for the Eagles. Before Saturday’s setback, they lost 4-0 to South on Thursday and beat East 4-0 on Tuesday. West has either shutout its opponent or been shutout in all six of its matches and has been outscored 16-8.
Throw in also the seldom-seen breakfast-time start.
“We were all a lot more tired,” Cox said. “A lot of energy drinks this morning, and we were not awake at all. We kind of woke up after halftime and have started to figure out who plays more where than we did earlier in the season.”
Dimond ran north to south during Saturday’s second half. In the 43rd minute, Porter blazed down the left wing and wisely eased up before colliding with the aforementioned snow wall. Minutes later, Mateaki briefly planted herself along the berm on the other end line of the pitch.
“Not very smart,” Porter said of the icy obstacles so close to the action. “Everyone should’ve grabbed their shovels. I know it’s hard to do, but I think it’s needed.”
DIRECT KICKS
- Dimond next plays at Service on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. West heads to Bartlett on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. start.
- Dimond and South have combined to win the last 12 DI state titles and 14 of the last 17. The Lynx own eight championships and the Wolverines’ six. The teams complete their regular-season series May 16 at DHS. The state tournament is tentatively scheduled to conclude May 27 with championship matches at West.