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Photo by John Wagner

An unyielding sun blazed above the dry, dusty West Valley soccer field, sapping energy from the players toiling beneath it.

Even the ball seemed affected by the celestial rays, moving at a snail’s pace as it left Katie Hovda’s foot in what was almost sure to be the Malemutes’ best hope at tying the game.

The seconds ticked away, and nothing stopped the ball’s crawl toward the corner of the goal, and a game that West Valley looked poised to win turned into a tie.

Hovda’s slow roller provided the answer for Malia Simpson’s goal Saturday as the Malemutes and Wolfpack played to a 1-1 draw in their Mid Alaska Conference showdown.

“I was waiting, and I was like, ‘Oh my God,’ then it went in and I was happy,” Hovda said.

With 10 minutes left to go in the game, quality offensive opportunities had been rare for the Malemutes, as West Valley goaltender Mackenzie Maxwell showed a knack for beating the Malemutes to their long passes.

But with time winding down, Lathrop midfielder Hannah Ross found a way to make the connection, sending a ball that split two Wolfpack defenders and found Hovda sprinting to the middle of the penalty box.

“It was what we had been trying to do all game, but hadn’t been effective at it. We finally got some control out of our center mids and she was able to push the ball, advance it up field a little bit,” Lathrop coach Danny Gibson said. “She put a great ball, split the defense and Katie slipped behind like she always does.”

With Mackenzie committed toward the right post, Hovda sent a strike with her right foot toward the far post to even the game.

“It was amazing. I just saw the ball and I shot it in the corner,” Hovda said. “I didn’t (hit it perfectly), but I tapped it in. It just managed to make it.”

The Malemutes were playing desperate soccer after Simpson’s arcing shot put the Wolfpack ahead 1-0 earlier in the second half.

Working just outside the penalty box and well wide of the left post, Simpson took control of a loose ball, settling it and then sending a blast that hung in the air as it hooked into the top right corner of the goal — just above the hand of a jumping Katie Hopkins.

“I was like, ‘Curve, curve curve,’” Simpson said. “It just got set up right to me. I got the opportunity to take a shot. I didn’t think it went in, then I look over and it’s in the back of the net.”

After Hovda’s goal evened the game, the Wolfpack had two chances to retake the lead.

Shelby Solomon’s right footer from inside the penalty box flew just over the crossbar and Katie Oates never had time to control the ball in the final seconds as her strike skated wide of the near post.

It was the story of the game for the Wolfpack, who had more scoring chances than the Malemutes but couldn’t find a way to convert.

Lindsay Martinez had a near-miss to start the second half and Kacy Gilbert-Gard and Katie Oates saw first-half opportunities slip by.

“We had our chances to put a few more in,” West Valley coach Greg Gibson said. “If we can find some time between this crazy game schedule, we’ll have to find some time to work on finishing.”

After Saturday’s tie, the two teams could find a lot riding on their next and final meeting — May 21 matchup at Lathrop — including a potential MAC crown.

“(I’m) happy and frustrated,” Simpson said. “I think we were the stronger team out there, we just couldn’t get the shots. I’m happy because we worked hard and it was a really fun game. They’re great competition, so I’m happy because our team worked awesome, but partly frustrated.”

Wolfpack boys win

The Lathrop Malemutes hadn’t been scored on all season.

But taking on their biggest rival, while playing their third game in as many days, it was the Malemutes — and not their opponent — who were struggling to find offense.

The Malemutes couldn’t overcome the combination of fatigue, and the tough West Valley squad, as they fell 5-0 at West Valley.

“It was a tough loss for us. We came out really flat,” Lathrop coach Sean Matheny said. “It just wasn’t our day today. That’s what it boils down to. After three tough matches in a row, the boys were a little tired out there.”

The Wolfpack took a 2-0 lead at halftime and never let the Malemutes back into the game.

“It was pretty well contested, then we just ran out of gas in the second half,” Matheny said. “We got down, we just couldn’t fight our way back through it.”

Fatigue wasn’t a problem for the Wolfpack, though they were playing their fourth game of the week.

Sean Solie, Asa Seymour, Nick Herzberg and Sawyer Kisken all scored goals as part of a strong offensive attack that even pressured the Malemutes to score on their own goal.

“They guys, they did a great job defensively and offensively,” West Valley coach Alan McGinty said. “Basically, on the attacking side of the ball, we sent them out and hit the creases with through-balls.”

The Wolfpack picked up their second goal when Asa Seymour brought offensive pressure on Lathrop’s goaltender. After a misplay of the ball, a Lathrop defenseman tried to clear it, but the attempt went off the goalie and into the net.

West Valley, which received assists from Evan McDonough, Luke Carson, Ollie Tunic and Sam Schmoker, also had a goal waved off on a dangerous play call.

“We scored five goals, but the stat that stands out for me is the shutout,” McGinty said. “The entire team played great defense.”