JDHS soccer boys open state tournament with 3-0 win over Colony

Sophomore Troy Edgar’s season first goal jump starts Crimson Bears

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Bryce Haygood, sophomore Troy Edgar, junior Maddox Carroll, junior Ethan Van Kirk and freshman Imanol Vera (5) celebrate Edgar's goal during the Crimson Bears' 3-0 win over the Colony Knights in the opening round of the ASAA Boys Soccer State Championships at Colony on Thursday, May 28, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

The first goal of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys state soccer tournament was a highlight for sophomore Troy Edgar.

“I feel really good about it,” Edgar said. “My first goal of the season for me, and it was a good goal in a really important game.”

The score came from a scrum in the box and gave JDHS a 1-0 lead when they needed it, roughly three minutes before the half of what up until then was an even game on the pitch.

Colony put a shot on goal in the first two minutes and Crimson Bears sophomore keeper Callan Walker handled it easily.

That shot was matched by JDHS sophomore Bryce Haygood and Colony junior keeper Aidan Fisher handled it as well.

A Colony corner kick was headed out by senior Jesper Bennetsen and Walker would wrestle with four more shots up to JDHS’ first tally.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Jesper Bennetsen heads a ball out of the Crimson Bears' box during their 3-0 win over the Colony Knights in the opening round of the ASAA Boys Soccer State Championships at Colony, Thursday on May 28, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

“It felt really amazing just to play here and be on this team,” Walker said. “And being able to catch the ball and keep it out of the net and keep my teammates' spirits up and keep them in this tournament means so much to me. It is just amazing.”

JDHS senior Kevin Flores-Lopez put a shot up early in the second half and Haygood put a header just wide minutes later as the Crimson Bears began to control the pitch.

JDHS junior Sam Mason buried a free kick from 20 yards out to give the Crimson Bears a 2-0 lead 14 minutes into the second half and a minute later junior Maddox Carroll put a pass to Edgar who tallied his second score of the game for a 3-0 lead.

“I saw Maddox turn the shoulder and flick it and I was just there for it and put it in,” Edgar said. “I am peaking at the right time, that is what is happening right now. My mindset has changed a lot. We feel good, we feel confident and ready to win this thing.”

Colony had a few more shots that Walker tipped away.

“I am not really doing too much different,” Walker said. “I am trying to figure out how to kick the ball further. So I am working on that a lot more and working on better form with my hands. I am trying to be more vocal with my teammates and setting them up and being a lot louder than I am and a lot more supportive.” and every other opportunity was stopped midfield, led by Bennetesen and senior Elliot Welch.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Callen Walker saves a shot in front of Colony senior Kristofer Belanger (8) during the Crimson Bears' 3-0 win over the Knights in the opening round of the ASAA Boys Soccer State Championships at Colony on Thursday, May 28, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

The JDHS midfielder and back were led by Bennetsen and senior Elliot Welch and a host of substitutes as the Crimson Bears ran the Knights into the turf.

“It feels good,” senior Jesper Bennetsen said. “I was pretty nervous going into it considering we had lost twice to them, but I feel like I could see this happening. I feel like I don’t think about the past games too hard. I don’t think about the chances that hard, or what happened in the past. I just keep playing.”

Bennetsen and Welch earned the game’s Good Sport Awards and Mazon was Player of the Game. Edgar received the team’s Lunch Box award.

Colony keeper Fisher had five saves. Knights’ senior Kristofer Belanger and Tre Brewster were Good Sport winners and senior Axel Simeck earned Player of the Game.

“We played great,” JDHS coach Gary Lehnhart said. “Good to see it all come together at the right time and the new strategy has kicked it. The guys have all bought in.”

JDHS played their ‘hockey substitution’ method and 20 players spent quality time on the pitch.

“I don’t know if I have done that in a state tournament before,” Lehnhart said. “Last year we didn’t sub very much and we played so hard the first two rounds, we won in overtime and we lost an overtime game,” and by the time we got to the third game half our guys couldn’t even play anymore. That is a real thing. Today guys came off the field saying they were tired. We were outrunning them. Our guys bought in and that is what I was worried about. To have so many guys ready to go is a good thing.”

JDHS advances to play a 1 p.m. Friday semifinal against top seed West Valley, a 4-1 winner over eighth seed Service. Colony and Service play an elimination game on Friday.

In the bottom half of the bracket third seed West Anchorage topped sixth seed South Anchorage 3-0 and second seed Dimond defeated seventh seed Chugiak 4-1.  West will face Dimond in a 5 p.m. Friday semifinal. South and Chugiak play an elimination game.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Sam Mazon strikes a scoring free kick during the Crimson Bears' 3-0 win over the Colony Knights in the opening round of the ASAA Boys Soccer State Championships at Colony on Thursday, May 28, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com