The Cook Inlet Academy coed soccer team wrapped up its fourth-straight Aurora Borealis Conference championship in Wasilla on Thursday through Saturday.
CIA polished off Delta 6-0 on Saturday in the conference championship, which is also the de facto state championship, and ends the season with a 22-0 record.
Eagles coach Kenny Leaf said that means seniors Riley Smithwick, Ashleigh Hammond and Madison Orth go out with the maximum amount of state titles.
“That’s a nice legacy for this crew of seniors,” Leaf said.
CIA did not allow a goal in the five-game swing through the tournament. That means the Eagles only allowed 11 goals all season.
After topping Nenana 13-0 on Thursday, CIA defeated Tri-Valley 4-0 and Wasilla Lake Christian 9-0 on Friday.
In the Tri-Valley game, Timmy Smithwick had a hat trick and Andrew Hammond added a goal. Brady Hammond had the shutout in net.
“We had a rough game against Tri-Valley in that second game,” coach Leaf said. “Looking at that game as a coach, I realized that we need to just forget about it and play good soccer.”
The Eagles did just that by finishing the tournament with three convincing victories.
In the victory over Wasilla Lake, Andrew Hammond, Johnny Smithwick and Connor Leaf each had two goals. Timmy Smithwick, Madison Orth and Riley Smithwick added tallies.
In Saturday’s semifinal, the Eagles downed Lumen Christi 8-0. Timmy Smithwick and Connor Leaf had hat tricks, while Johnny Smithwick and Emma Lyons had goals. Brady Hammond had the shutout in net.
Finally, in the title game victory against Delta, Johnny Smithwick had a hat trick, Timmy Smithwick had two goals and Andrew Hammond had a goal.
In a nod to CIA’s dominant defense, defenders Riley Smithwick and Ashleigh Hammond were the tournament MVPs.
“It’s the first tournament I can remember where defensive players were the most valuable players,” coach Leaf said. “It’s hard to say where defense ends and attacking begins in soccer, but our defense went through the tournament without a goal.”
Other all-tournament selections from CIA were Noah Leaf on defense and Connor Leaf, Timmy Smithwick, Orth and Andrew Hammond on offense.
In all-conference balloting, Timmy Smithwick and Orth were MVPs. Riley Smithwick, Connor Leaf and Brady Hammond also were honored.
Coach Leaf said Timmy Smithwick was deserving of the MVP nod.
“It’s unbelievable the number of goals he scored,” Leaf said. “His goals per game average is nearly a hat trick.”
Leaf said CIA also had a number of players named to the all-academic team.
“That was a good reflection of the school, of excellence all around and not just on the soccer field,” Leaf said.
