The Cook Inlet Academy coed soccer team lost 2-1 in overtime to Susitna Valley on Friday in the semifinals of the Borealis Conference tournament in Palmer. The Borealis tourney also serves as the state tournament for coed soccer in the fall.
The loss sent CIA to play Tri-Valley at 10 a.m. Saturday. That result was not available as the Clarion went to press.
Susitna Valley was the defending conference champion, but the Eagles gave the Rams all they could handle.
“It’s disappointing to come so close and end up short, but we played some of the best soccer of our season today,” CIA head coach Kenny Leaf wrote in an email. “I’m very proud of the effort I saw out there.”
Leaf said cold, rainy weather made field conditions difficult on the natural grass at the MTA Events Center. Neither team was able to score in the first half.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Su Valley knocked in the first goal of the match. But shortly later, Linnaea Dohse crossed the ball to Tatum Rozak, who nodded the ball on goal. Isaac Johnson hammered home the equalizer.
Neither team would score in regulation or the first five minutes of overtime. But in the 86th minute, Su Valley’s Dalton Pinard finished from close range for a 2-1 lead.
