Sports

Cougars end Dimond flag football streak at 42

A confident Service Cougars flag football team handed Dimond its first setback since the 2011 season, halting the Lynx' winning streak at 42 games Saturday.

Service scored on the second play of the game at Dimond Alumni Field when quarterback Julia Miknich connected with Zoe Bailey on a 60-yard pass play.

"The girls just felt confident they could score quickly," Service coach Jason Calderera said. "It was a good emotional pickup to get those first points."

Dimond grabbed a 7-6 lead on Elizabeth Goodrum's 16-yard touchdown reception from Nikki Forrey, but a Service defense led by Lahronda Daniels and Lauren Cuddihy denied the Lynx the rest of the way.

The Cougars took the lead for good in the second quarter on the first of two Miknich-to-Kyla Pearce touchdown passes.

"Service played great," Dimond coach Kathleen Navarre said.

Both teams are 8-1 in the Cook Inlet Conference. Each has five games left before the playoffs, which is the next time they could possibly meet again. In their first meeting this season, Dimond rallied for a 21-14 ? a costly victory that saw star Malia Lyken go down with an injury.

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That close call was on the Cougars' minds Saturday.

"The first time we played them at our place and we were up 14-13 with six minutes left and driving on the five-yard line and we thew an interception," Calderera said. "The girls had confidence they could hang with them."

The Lynx, winners of the last two CIC championships, hadn't lost since East beat them in the 2011 conference semifinals. Coming into Saturday's game, they had been put to the test twice, once by Service and another time by South, which took them into overtime before losing 13-7.

"Dimond's a very well-coached team," Calderera said. "There was a 42-game winning streak for a reason."

Calderera said his team has drawn some of the best athletes from Service's softball, soccer and basketball teams. "They're used to competing at a high level, and they've had three years to our system now," he said. "I'm really pleased with how they've come together."

But he knows that, even with Lyken still out, Dimond remains a formidable challenge.

"We're just really trying to emphasis to the girls it is just a regular-season game and it really counts when it comes to the playoffs," Calderera said. "We want to be humble and take a one-game-at-a-time approach."

East 25, Chugiak 0

Four players scored touchdowns Saturday to power East to a 25-0 shutout of Chugiak in a CIC flag football game in Chugiak.

Grace Wiggins and Anna Silao rushed for touchdowns and Alexis Joubert and Felila Manu caught touchdown passes for the Thunderbirds.

Bartlett 19, Eagle River 0

Damaiya Ward had a hand in all three touchdowns Saturday, lifting Bartlett's flag football team to a 19-0 CIC triumph over host Eagle River.

Ward threw touchdown passes for Tala Lauvale and Dani Van Ord and rushed 30 yards for another Golden Bears touchdown.

The defense got a boost from Lauvale, who had a two interceptions, including one she returned to the 20-yard line to set up Van Ord's touchdown. Chenelle Mann racked up 12 pulls, six of them for losses.

South 34, West 6

McKenzie Smith threw three touchdown passes Saturday in South's 34-6 CIC flag football rout of West at Anchorage Football Stadium.

Two of the passes went to Callie Orizotti and another went to Sabrina Ungaro, who also rushed for a touchdown.

The Wolverines led 21-0 before West got on the scoreboard with a touchdown by Maya McPherson.

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