Dylan Tobe (11) of Fairbanks moves the ball past a leaping Delaware Christian opponent Wednesday evening. The Panthers advanced in the Division III tournament with a 5-0 victory. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Cade Ziegler and Cade Feller both tallied a pair of goals Wednesday evening for the Fairbanks High School boys soccer squad.
They helped lead the No. 5-seeded Panthers (12-5-1) to a 5-0 opening-round Division III tournament victory over No. 23 Delaware Christian.
The contest marked the first post-season contest for the school under the new lights on the soccer pitch.
Fairbanks tallied its initial goal nearly nine minutes into the contest.
Feller took the ball to the net and blasted it past Delaware Christian’s Eric Riebel for a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers worked on their possession game for a while as they controlled position on the Eagles’ side of the field.
Feller notched his second goal with 26:54 remaining until halftime.
Dylan Tobe maneuvered the ball within close range of the net.
He flipped the ball over to Feller for the shot that gave Fairbanks a 2-0 margin.
Delaware Christian had trouble moving the sphere to its side of the field for much of the first period.
As a result, FHS keeper Eli Thrush didn’t come out of the net to stop the ball until there was 21:24 remaining in the half.
The Panthers took a 3-0 advantage nearly two minutes later.
Pierce Powell attempted a shot that rebounded to Ziegler’s foot.
Ziegler flicked the ball past the keeper for the score.
Fairbanks added another goal by Ziegler and one from Joe Pacheo during the second half.
Thrush split time with Nate Russell in the net.
Both were credited with one half of shutout competition.
Powell finished the match with a pair of assists.
Josh Underhill had one assist.
The Panthers will return home for their next tournament match.
They will host sixth-seeded Columbus Academy at 7 p.m. on Monday.
Pioneers fall
Jonathan Alder’s boys soccer squad saw its season come to an end.
The No. 7 Pioneers (6-8-3) dropped a 2-0 verdict at No. 3 Bloom Carroll.
The Bulldogs controlled the action for much of the game.
They prevented the Pioneers from getting into any type of offensive flow.
On the other hand, Bloom Carroll sent seven shots toward Jonathan Alder’s net.
JA keeper Dom Dellapina came up with five saves.