Dimond, South draw 1-1 in anticipated rematch of girls soccer powerhouses
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The high school soccer season kicked off with a marquee matchup at The Dome between the Dimond Lynx and the South Anchorage Wolverines. The two powerhouse girls soccer programs have met in each of the last five Alaska State High School Championships, including last season when Dimond scored the game-winning goal in the 96th minute to reclaim the title.
South was sitting with that sour feeling all offseason, and in their first matchup of the year, jumped out to a 1-0 lead early after Brianna Bailey cleaned up a rebound in front of the net. Dimond, with that championship DNA, quickly responded when Ayla Ertekin paired up with Quynn Campbell for a give-and-go, finished with an Ertekin sliding goal to knot the game 1-1 before the end of the first half.
South thought they found an advantage in the second half when Faith Hughes megged the goalkeeper between the legs for a goal that was later called back due to a delayed penalty on South. Both teams continued to create chances in the closing minutes, but keepers Skylar Lind (South) and Grace Petru (Dimond) protected the net and the match fittingly ended in a 1-1 draw.
“It was a really good game,” Dimond head coach Will Lucero said. “It is a game of chess, not checkers right? For us, we kept to our system, we kept creating those opportunities that we needed, but it’s a great game and that’s why we play it.”
Many of the players on the pitch are teammates with the Cook Inlet Soccer Club, gathering at the same venue just days earlier as they celebrated their hard work by signing to their respective colleges together.
“I mean as soon as we step on the field we’re rivals, but right after and right before we’re friends,” South’s Brianna Bailey said.
“It’s all good vibes, but you come out and you’ll talk about it all club season, ‘we’re going to rematch.’” Addison Bailey, Brianna’s cousin said. “It’s all friendly but when on the field you can’t be friends for like an hour.”
The highly anticipated round two will come Friday, May 16, 5:30 p.m. at South High School.
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