Staff report
Peninsula Clarion
The Cook Inlet Academy coed soccer team picked up a 2-2 tie against Delta Junction in Aurora Borealis Conference action Thursday evening in Delta.
After suffering a 6-0 loss to the Huskies on Aug. 20 at home, CIA rebounded with a scrappy first half that ended with the Eagles holding a 2-1 lead.
Delta opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a strike from Savannah Henderson, but CIA answered with a penalty kick goal in the 36th minute from Connor Leaf. The penalty was set up when Meijan Leaf sent a cross from the right side into the goalie box and a Delta defender handled the ball.
Then, just four minutes later and only a minute from the halftime break, Noah Leaf caught a corner kick from Connor and finished it for a 2-1 CIA lead.
CIA coach Kenny Leaf said he was glad to be on the other end of a late scoring opportunity after the Eagles gave up two goals in the last minute of both halves of a 2-1 loss to Lumen Christi last Saturday. Coach Leaf also praised the efforts of his son, Noah, who was tasked with defending Delta’s Nathan Anderson, a forward that tallied five goals against CIA in their previous meeting in August.
However, Anderson still broke through with an equalizing goal Thursday with a strike in the 59th minute.
Coach Leaf said CIA goaltender Brady Hammond performed admirably in the net, as he was kept busy with a barrage of Delta attacks.
The draw leaves CIA with a 1-3-1 overall record this year. The Eagles face Nenana today at 4:30 p.m., then take on Tri Valley Saturday at noon.
