Photo by Matt Nevala/Alaska Sports Report
A formidable order echoed from the South High boys soccer sideline in the 52nd minute of play Monday afternoon.
“Keep pressing,” Brian Lux enthusiastically shouted. “Let’s go.”
The Wolverines certainly answered their coach’s call – before, during and after hearing it.
Senior Kyle Fischer pocketed his first two goals of the young season, junior Matthew Wagner added his second and South looked every bit a defending state champion. The Wolverines kept at it offensively throughout in their 3-0 shutout of Cook Inlet Conference rival Service inside the confines of The Dome.
“We changed formations prior to this one and the focus was to really push (Service’s) defense,” said Fischer, who scored in the 14th and 66th minute. “We only had one striker in previous games. In this one we had three.
“It really worked, once we set the tone and pressured every ball.”
Photo by Matt Nevala/Alaska Sports Report
Winner of the 2022 Division I state title, South (2-1-1, 1-0-0) opened the CIC portion of its repeat bid out-chancing Service by a 27-6 count. The Wolverines put 17 shots on goal and kept Cougars senior goalkeeper Matthew Gordon immeasurably busy. Gordon was credited with 14 saves to only three from South sophomore Ralf Braun.
“We don’t want our keeper to be busy like that at all,” veteran Service coach Dan Rufner said of Gordon’s heroics. “Goalies may like something like that, but not in games. Maybe in practices or if a college coach is here watching.
“Today was just sloppy all around. I don’t know what happened.”
Service dropped to 2-4-0, 1-1-0.
From the onset, the pitch tilted in South’s favor. Attack after attack was meant with Service doing its best to get the ball out of harm’s way. The first several minutes featured a myriad of corner kicks and offensive-end throw-ins from the Wolverines.
Fischer notched the first score in a goalmouth scramble between him, Gordon and a few other Cougars. After pinballing around, the ball popped loose for Fischer near the left goal post.
Photo by Matt Nevala/Alaska Sports Report
“It’s a little frantic, just get the ball in the goal,” Fischer said of the mindset on the scoring play. “You just try to think as fast as you can, be strong and have some composure.”
Wagner squirted loose on the left wing and threaded a shot over a sprawling Gordon for the second goal in the 57th minute. Fischer answered from a similar position on the right side nine minutes later.
Using the Anchorage School District’s master schedule as a guide, South next plays Wednesday afternoon against Bartlett at The Dome. The Wolverines first CIC match outdoors is slated for April 27 at home against West. Service goes up against the Eagles on Thursday night at West, marking the first matchup of the season outside between league rivals. Some teams have thus far hosted nonconference outdoors matches, but Monday marked a momentous day for all the city’s springtime CIC sports.
Players and coaches confirmed most action will take place in the open air, ever-loving snow accumulation notwithstanding.
“It’s huge, (practicing) in the gym is terrible,” Fischer said. “The hard surface, it hurts your calves. I won’t miss The Dome. I like playing outside.”
TEAM-BUILDING TRIP
Before Service heads outside to play the remainder of the season, it made a trip Outside.
Off and on for the last 13 years, Rufner has taken the Cougars on an early-season trip to either the Portland or Seattle area. A lot depends on which Major League Soccer squad is home at the appropriate time.
Photo by Matt Nevala/Alaska Sports Report
Service played three Washington state teams – Camas, Skyview and Evergreen – during a trio of March days. The Cougars lost the three matches by a 6-1 cumulative score, not that it really matters.
“The team-building stuff is so good,” he said. “It helps get us over this stuff because we’ve had a lot of fun together. It allows you to move past losses a little more. Plus, all 20 on our roster got to play.”
DIRECT KICKS
- Five Service boys soccer players and two from the girls program are expected to be part of the school’s mega-college signing ceremony Tuesday. Nineteen athletes representing nine different sports will be part of the 7 p.m. program inside the SHS theater.
- South holds a 10-8-4 edge over Service in the last 22 matches dating back more than 12 years. The teams are set to close out the regular season May 20 on Service’s pitch.
- On May 2, the Cougars’ Partners Club and Special Olympics Alaska will team up for the sixth-annual inclusion soccer match on the Service pitch. Last season, 55 school alumni participated in the inclusion match which next month will transpire between the Dimond-Service girls and boys varsity matches.