Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
In the seconds after his final in-match action as a high school soccer player, Zachary Cheyette emerged from the chaos, whipped off then whirled his captain armband and sprinted towards the middle of the pitch in pure exaltation.
“Last touch, final touch, you’re going to give it your all,” he said Saturday night. “The ‘golden goal’ to win it all. Senior year, captain. I just prayed no defenders were in the way, and when I hit (the ball), I knew it was going in.
Colony earned Alaska Division I state championship supremacy yet again.
Cheyette’s goal just inside the second minute of sudden-victory overtime – the match’s 102nd total minute of play – lifted the Knights to a 2-1 victory over defending champion South at chilly and cloudy West High Alumni Stadium. Colony won its fourth state title, third in less than 10 years and capped off an impressive 20-1-1 season.
“I turned and just started to run,” Cheyette said of his golden moment of a goal celebration. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
Colony and South (13-2-2) split a pair of regular-season meetings, each winning on their home turf. The Wolverines handed the Knights their lone loss with a 1-0 victory on May 13 and carried a 13-match unbeaten streak into the title tilt. The runner-up status is South’s fifth since first arriving on the scene in 2005. The program has also won the DI crown eight times.
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
“Two evenly matched teams (tonight),” South coach Brian Lux said. “Two teams that really battled and had those two close games earlier. I thought we’d generate a few more chances, but you know, you have to score goals.”
The teams each tallied eight shots on goal in 80 minutes of scoreless regulation play, yet each potted a goal in the non-sudden victory portion of overtime. Colony senior goalkeeper Brendan Heck finished with nine total saves and South sophomore Ralf Braun compiled 10.
Colony senior speedster David Elliott converted Jonathan Figgins’ right-to-left crossing feed into his team-high 22nd goal in the 84th minute. The Knights carried the 1-0 edge into the intermission between 10-minute non-sudden victory sessions.
Cheyette could be heard in the huddle prior to the second 10-minute session imploring his teammates to be safe and to be smart. They were for the most part.
In the final seconds of the 10s, Colony fouled South sophomore Dawit Hoffman a few strides into the penalty area. Wolverines junior Jack Hickox took the ensuing penalty kick and beat Heck cleanly to the goalie’s left to tie the score 1-1.
The head official whistled the end of that OT soon after.
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Once sudden-victory OT kicked in, Colony took advantage of its second offensive chance. Sophomore Isaac Villa lined up a corner kick from the left side of the pitch. He sent the ball long and it appeared sophomore Owen Dietz got the first piece. Junior Tyler Swartz then headed the ball in the net’s direction and Cheyette snuck in to punch it home.
“Tyler has scored about six headers and I knew he was going to get to it,” Cheyette said. “When it popped out, I ignored all the defenders and even the teammates around me.”
As Colony celebrated, Lux and the Wolverines were obviously dejected.
Lux and his wife Lauren have helped guide the South program – Brian, the boys, while Lauren has led the girls for the better part of five years. The couple recently welcomed Mikki, their 4-month-old daughter to the team and Mom has enjoyed well-earned maternity leave. She was on hand for the South girls’ thrilling 2-1 overtime win over Dimond prior to the boys’ match, and then headed home to be with baby.
“(Lauren) gets all the credit for the girls’ win,” Brian Lux said prior to the late evening’s award ceremony. “That’s been her team for five years. She has built them up, and unfortunately won’t be here to raise their trophy.
“It very bittersweet. I want to cry because I’m so happy for her and I want to cry because I’m sad for my boys.”
Colony coach Jeremy Johnson was hired in early 1995 and had just turned 21 when he coached his first varsity match. Now nearing 30 years later, Johnson is among a longevity shortlist of notable Southcentral Alaska high school coaches. Dimond hockey coach Dennis Sorenson finished his 34th season behind the Lynx bench earlier this year. Wasilla girls basketball coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax started the season before Johnson was hired at Colony.
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
“(Johnson) just sees players and sees the best potential out of them,” Cheyette said. “To know he’s been coaching longer than I’ve been alive, all his players are all in on his game plan, full of confidence.
“He knows how to win.”
Johnson also knows how to play for the United States. He and East High girls coach Jo Reid will once again represent the country at the Federation for International Footgolf World Cup. The tournament begins in Orlando in a few days and Reid is already Outside awaiting Johnson’s arrival.
He flew out early Sunday morning as a state champion.
“It’s going to be a breeze of a trip for him,” Cheyette said. “He’s going to have a great time in Florida.”
Alaska School Activities Association/First National Bank Alaska
2023 Division I State Soccer Championships
All-Tournament Team
Boys
Isaac Villa, Colony
Jack Hickox, South
Brady Rufner, Service
Alex Tilbury, Lathrop
Dashiell Morgan, West
Andrew Nielsen, Chugiak
Ashton Lee, South
Alex Emers, West Valley
Dawit Hoffman, South
Brendan Heck, Colony
David Elliott, Colony
Kyan Harnum, West Valley