Is it doable for a workforce that has dominated the ranks of Alaska’s Division II soccer for a decade to be thought of an underdog?
Within the case of the Soldotna Excessive, the reply could also be sure.
The Stars gained eight straight D-II crowns beginning in 2010, however final 12 months Lathrop topped Soldotna twice, together with 39-28 within the state title sport.
And this 12 months Lathrop has gone wire-to-wire because the top-ranked workforce in D-II.
So when the Stars and Malemutes match up Saturday at midday at Service Excessive Faculty, Lathrop will enter as a deserved favourite.
“We’ve had practically a decade value of groups that we’re form of going by means of uncontested,” Soldotna head coach Galen Brantley mentioned. “(The workforce) got here up brief a 12 months in the past. They labored their means by means of the season and misplaced to the Lathrop within the title sport. So we really feel like we’re a bit little bit of an underdog going into this one and, you already know, our guys really feel like they’ve one thing to show.”
Soldotna cruised by means of the common season, scoring greater than 40 factors in each sport. Final week’s 34-20 playoff win over North Pole proved to be a take a look at, however Brantley mentioned the Stars have been anticipating this weekend’s matchup all season.
“We’ve been on a collision course with Lathrop,” Brantley mentioned. “I believe we’ve identified it from Day 1. Our whole season and the playoffs, every thing has been preparation up thus far. So far as getting ourselves prepared, that began a 12 months in the past in October.”
The 2 groups performed within the 2019 title with Soldotna cruising 69-23. After no championship was performed in 2020 as a result of pandemic, Lathrop bought its revenge final season.
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And regardless of not essentially being rivals, Brantley mentioned it’s a sport each groups stay up for.
“We’ve had this sport circled on the calendar for a very long time,” he mentioned. “That is why we put all of the work in, to get to the purpose the place you’ve got an opportunity to get on the sphere with a greater workforce and do every thing we are able to to present ourselves the chance to achieve success.”
Brantley mentioned the workforce has had accidents in addition to some student-athletes transfer away, leaving a possibility for youthful gamers on this 12 months’s workforce.
“We’re down to 5 returning seniors,” he mentioned. “We begin a ton of tenth graders. There have been loads of video games this season the place we began seven sophomores on protection. The youth is a part of the storyline with this group.”
Regardless of the youth, Brantley mentioned each the workforce and the city are anticipating the prospect so as to add to their championship whole.
“It’s a soccer city and it’s an enormous deal for our children to be part of our program,” he mentioned. “We really feel it’s a particular factor for them.”