The Cook Inlet Academy coed soccer team has quietly become the unstoppable force of the Kenai Peninsula sports scene.
The Eagles dominated the pitch in a 7-1 win over Delta Junction Friday afternoon at the Kenai Sports Complex fields, extending a long unbeaten streak that goes back to 2012.
The victory boosts CIA’s 2014 record to 10-0, and also furthers a massive winning streak of at least 39 consecutive games. CIA coach Kenny Leaf said he believes the last outright loss for the Eagles came in the sixth game of the 2012 fall season.
Combining this year, last year’s 21-0 campaign, 2012’s record of 21-1-2 and 2011’s mark of 16-1, it all adds up to a 68-2-2 record going back three and a half years.
“That was some of our best stuff so far this season,” Leaf said about Friday’s performance. “From the back to the front, I would guess we had about 80 percent possession. I guess the kids wanted to shine for the home crowd.”
CIA junior Timmy Smithwick started the scoring with a goal on a cross from Connor Leaf in the opening minutes of the game. Smithwick added a second goal in the 15th minute on a quick touch from Madison Orth to extend the Eagles lead. Smithwick completed his hat trick — the second match in a row for him — with a goal in the 30th minute on a “brilliant cross” from Andrew Hammond.
“When you look at our team, it’s impossible to say where defense ends and offense begins,” Leaf said. “All eleven players on the field were winning challenges and distributing balls to start the attack.”
Delta clawed back with a goal four minutes into the second half from Nathan Anderson, his fourth goal of the year against CIA, remarkable considering that the Eagles have allowed only seven total goals this year.
However, CIA answered back with goals from Smithwick (his fourth of the game), freshman Johnny Smithwick, and freshman John Grossl.
“Delta is probably our toughest opponent in the Borealis Conference, and when we play them we don’t usually substitute much,” Leaf said. “David Barlow, Dani Hills, Kate Zimmerman, Dalton Johnson, Sydney and Maddy Carey, Breona Delon, Kendall Taplin, Brook Kent, and John Grossl all saw time on the field.”
The Eagles host the 2014 Alaska Christian Schools Athletic Association tournament in Kenai next weekend. CIA begins Thursday with a 2 p.m. matchup with Wasilla Lake.
