The Homer High School girls soccer team put on a clinic Thursday, defeating Skyview 7-0 in a Region III Southern Division match at Skyview.
"We moved the ball well," said Homer coach Mickey Todd. "It was nice to see senior Chantrelle (Cousins) score three, and Bailey (Lowney) had three. Kendra (Stier) was our other goal scorer, and she's also a senior."
While it was Homer's upperclassmen doing the finishing, it was a freshman doing the work in the middle of the park to set up the goals. Claire Siekanic controlled the pace of the game for the Mariners, distributing the ball to her wing players and springing Homer's forwards with nicely played through passes.
Cousins put the Mariners on the scoreboard seven minutes into the match with a blast from about 15 yards out that trickled through the Skyview goalkeeper.
Lowney made it 2-0 just two minutes later, redirecting a hard cross straight toward the back of the net.
Lowney put the Mariners up by three goals just seconds before the halftime whistle, scoring on a corner kick play.
Todd said that his underclassmen have played a great deal of youth soccer through the Homer Soccer Association and came into the high school program already possessing very good skills.
"But nobody beats my seniors on desire," Todd said.
That combination of skill and desire continued to pay dividends through the second half. The Mariners continued to pepper the Skyview goal with shots, but weren't able to break through for another goal until Cousins was able to pounce on a loose ball in front of the Skyview net and poke it home in the 57th minute.
Cousins collected her hat trick two minutes later with a hard shot from about 15 yards out, and Lowney tallied her third goal in the 65th minute with another nice one-touch finish off a good cross.
Skyview's best scoring opportunity came in the 61st minute of play with a clean breakaway, but Homer goalkeeper Kathryn McCorren came well of her line and pounced on the ball before a shot could be taken.
Stier finished off the scoring with five minutes left in the match.
While the Mariners are now 2-0 this season, Todd expected a good test for his squad today when Homer squares off with Juneau-Douglas at Skyview.
Skyview coach Tony Lewis said he was impressed with the Mariners' skill, and said he told his players to continue to challenge themselves despite being down a few goals.
"The important thing is that you've got to keep learning every time you're out there," Lewis said.
Lewis said he's been impressed with the play of Skyview midfielder Ginny Berg.
"She's done everything I've asked her to do in the midfield," Lewis said. "... She plays hard but fair, and she tries really hard to involve her teammates."
Skyview is scheduled to play at Soldotna Saturday.
