Another Dimond-South girls soccer classic ends with the Lynx winning the state title in overtime

Given the championship pedigree and familiarity of the two soccer programs, the extra time needed Saturday to decide the Division I girls title between Dimond and South made what, exactly?

“A lot of sense,” said Dimond sophomore and first-year goalkeeper Lauren Sulte. “Nothing ever comes easy between these two teams.”

Lynx freshman Mai Mateaki’s second goal of the match, a successful penalty kick in the 82nd minute, helped lift Dimond to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the archrival Wolverines.

On a ridiculously wet and chilly afternoon at Service High, Dimond won its second straight title going back to 2019 and eighth overall. Last season’s state tournament was canceled because of the pandemic.

Dimond and South have combined for 14 of the 21 Division I championships awarded since the Alaska School Activities Association sanctioned the tournament in 2000. Saturday’s meeting marked the fifth time the rivals have met in the season finale (2005, 2011, 2017, 2019 and 2021).

“We all played our hearts out, every second of every minute.” said South freshman Jaylene Womack, who scored twice. “Before we start, there are all these nerves. But as soon as the whistle blows, they’re all gone, and you focus on what’s in front of you.”

Dimond (16-1-0 record) outshot the Wolverines 9-5 in regulation and carried a 3-2 lead heading into the final minutes. South freshman Morgan Galko tied the match and set up overtime in the 74th minute when she positioned herself in a scrum of players and headed a long free kick past Sulte.

High school overtime calls for two full 10-minute periods without sudden death. Mateaki broke the deadlock two minutes into extra time when South was called for a hand ball in the goal box.

Wolverines keeper Ayris Gonzalez held the ball until Mateaki went over and grabbed it to place on the kick line. She laced her shot inside the right post.

“I had to tell her to give it to me,” Mateaki said of Gonzalez, her club soccer teammate. “She was keeping it from me. I always go low right and she knows that, being my (club) teammate and all.”

Crazy coincidence: Mateaki’s game winner in the 82nd minute of play matched the feat her older sister Kana Mateaki pulled in the 82nd minute of the 2019 championship match. Kana’s goal sparked Dimond’s 2-1 win over South.

“That was in the 82nd minute?” Mai said. “That’s weird.”

Dimond totaled five first-half scoring chances while the Wolverines (14-3-0) converted on their lone opportunity.

Womack made a sterling steal and 30-yard run down the left wing to account for the match’s first goal. She scored in the fourth minute, punching a shot inside the near left post for the early South lead.

In the 21st minute, Mateaki tied things up. She controlled a ping-ponging ball deep in the goal box and put shot in the net’s right side past Gonzalez.

Rewinding to the opening minute, Lynx junior Talhia Turner broke loose on the right wing and missed her shot wide left. She made up for it in the 37th minute. While South pleaded for an offsides call, Turner took off down the middle and touched a shot over Gonzalez’s head for a 2-1 Dimond lead at the break.

Dimond’s Keegyn Applegate and South’s Womack and Galko scored second-half goals.

A member of Dimond’s dominant volleyball team, Sulte is new to goalkeeping. She gave it a try in part because of family connections — brother Hunter earlier this month became the second Alaskan to play in a Major League Soccer match as a goalie with the Portland Timbers.

“He’s always been a big inspiration,” said Sulte, who on Saturday was just as motivated by her teammates.

“We have an amazing defense, and our forwards can make shots out of anything,” she said. “They’re amazing. To be honest, I knew we would do this.”

Matt Nevala co-hosts “The Sports Guys” on KHAR AM 590 and FM 96.7 (@cbssports590) Saturdays at 11 a.m. Find him on social media at @MNevala9.

ASAA/First National Bank Alaska state soccer championships

Saturday’s results

Championship — Dimond 4, South 3 OT

Third place — West Valley 3, Colony 0

Fourth place — West 1, Service 0

All-Tournament Team

Erin Wilbanks, Service

Keegyn Applegate, Dimond

Gracie Hoover, South

Frida Vargas, West

Aubrey Stacy, West Valley

Annika Ostberg, Dimond

Samantha Johnstone, Colony

Maisy O’Neill, West Valley

Nataya Lee, South

Tatum Porter, Dimond

Talhia Turner, Dimond

Jaylene Womack, South

An earlier version of this story misidentified Morgan Galko, the freshman who scored two goals for South High.