The Golden Bears got a golden goal Saturday when Chase Alexander's header in stoppage time lifted Bartlett to a dramatic 3-2 Cook Inlet Conference comeback win at West.
"Our coach gave us a really good speech at halftime," said Alexander, whose team trailed 2-0 at halftime. "It helped us keep up that intensity and get back in the game."
Alexander said head coach Matt Froehle stressed the importance of sticking with the game plan and doing the little things well.
"He just basically said take care of your own spots," Alexander said.
Alexander's game-winner came off a corner kick by Alex Dehart, who bent the ball toward the goal line. West keeper Tony Eskelson leaped to catch the ball but it slipped through his hands and onto Alexander's opportunistic noggin.
Anyone who left at halftime would surely have been surprised by the result after the Eagles owned the opening 40 minutes. West took a 1-0 lead just five minutes in on a header by James Hoak off Greyson Adams' corner, and the Eagles led 2-0 when Jesus Esquivel found the net after a breakaway in the 15th minute.
After the game, Froehle admitted a draw would have been a decent result after getting trounced in the first half.
"Forty minutes ago we would have been pleased to get a point out of this game," he said.
Abdihakim Zirah started the comeback five minutes into the second half when he used a clever header that floated just out of Eskelson's reach and under the crossbar to make it 2-1. Then in the 60th minute, Zirah set up the equalizer when he fired a perfect cross to Jackie Yang, who was ideally positioned to tap the ball home.
Froehle said he told his team to stay focused on playing well and not worry about the score.
"What we try to talk about all the time is we don't focus on result or where we are but just the process of everyone making sure they're doing their job, making the right decisions and executing," he said.
The win enabled Bartlett to stay in the thick of the playoff race midway through the season. As of Saturday, South (7-0-1, 22 points) and Dimond (6-0-2, 20) were firmly atop the CIC standings, with Service (4-2-1, 13) and Bartlett (4-3-1, 13) in a battle for the last of the conference's three state tournament berths. The loss dropped fifth-place West to 2-5-1.
Froehle said that in order for Bartlett to stay in the hunt, players can't worry about the standings. Instead, he wants them to take care of their individual assignments and let the rest take care of itself.
"I like to let them have me focus on that stuff," he said.
GIRLS
South 4, North Pole 1
South got a pair of goals from Kayla Sims to key its 4-1 nonconference girls soccer win over North Pole on Saturday in North Pole.
Megan Currier and Morgan Lash each had a goal and an assist for the Wolverines, who also got an assist from Isabel Evans.
Eagle River 4, Juneau 0
Allonna Walker had a hat trick and Mallory Garbe had a goal and an assist to lead Eagle River to a 4-0 nonconference girls soccer win on Saturday at the Wolves' Den.
Eagle River goalie Tara Fisher backstopped the shutout.