The Mariner girls soccer team had a successful weekend, bringing home two wins against Palmer and Colony teams.

On Friday the varsity team defeated Palmer 3-1. While Palmer played well and made for a formidable challenge, the Mariners’ resilience and leadership shone through. 

Sophomore Desiree Cleary out maneuvered the completion and scored twice, with Rachell Ellert, a junior, and Aspen Daigle, a senior, assisting. 

Daigle also scored against Palmer on Friday with an assist from Uliana Reutov, a sophomore.  

“They really brought it home this weekend; they gave it their all,” said head coach Mickey Todd. “They are really starting to show understanding and proficiency in the field. Every game they get better.”

The win streak continued on Saturday when the Junior Varsity team won 2-0 against Colony. 

The secret to the wins may lie in the synergy that exists between the players. At one point during Saturday’s game, the Mariners had eight freshmen on the field, and the new talent did not disappoint. The points scored against Colony were made by Andie Sonnen and Laci King, both of whom are freshmen. 

While the team continues to readjust positions, other freshmen continue to impress with their skills. Hannah Mershon and Raisa Basargin both delivered stellar performances on the field.

“I think the talent this year is phenomenal. They are playing incredibly well this season … they are working hard and it shows,” said Todd.

Though they played as fiercely as the junior varsity team, the varsity team did not fare as well against Colony, losing 2-0. However, Todd is confident that the loss won’t stick with the team for long.

“They were pretty exhausted from the night before.  I’m not surprised how Saturday’s game went. But the team really played phenomenally despite the loss, truthfully,” he said.

This week the girls team will be playing games on their home turf. Today they take on Ketchikan followed by Grace Christian School on Friday. On Saturday the team will travel to Nikiski to face the Bulldogs.