CIA soccer takes 3rd at Aurora Borealis Conference tourney

  • By Staff Report
  • Saturday, October 3, 2015 11:54pm
  • Sports

The Cook Inlet Academy soccer team took third place at the Aurora Borealis Conference tournament in Healy on Saturday.

The Eagles, who had won the last four conference titles, took third place by defeating Susitna Valley on penalty kicks. Delta won the conference title with a 3-0 victory over Holy Rosary Academy.

The third-place game was actually the last game played at the tournament. CIA had not scored on a header all season, but in the first half Noah Leaf, on a corner kick from Connor Leaf, headed the ball in for a 1-0 lead. But Jack Starbuck equalized for the Rams in the second half.

Starbuck scored again in the first of two 10-minute overtime periods, but in the second OT period, Connor Leaf bent in a corner kick for a 2-2 game. After two, five-minute OT periods were scoreless, Connor Leaf, Noah Leaf and Brady Hammond made their penalty kicks.

The Rams made their first corner kick, but then Hammond saved two, and Su Valley put another one over, to give the Eagles the victory.

“He put on a clinic in goal,” coach Kenny Leaf said of Hammond.

Friday, CIA made the semis of the tournament with a 9-1 victory over Tri-Valley. Noah Leaf had four goals, Jiabao Leaf and Connor Leaf each had two goals, and Breona DeLon added a goal. Coach Leaf also said Chase Miller was solid at center back.

Friday night, CIA lost 3-1 to Delta in the semifinals in a rematch of last year’s title game. Jiabao Leaf, a freshman who had six goals in the tournament, had the lone goal for CIA. Coach Leaf said the defense of Miller, Kate Zimmerman, Maddy Carey and Noah Leaf, and Hammond at goalie, did their best against Delta’s fine striker, Nathan Anderson.

Saturday morning, the Eagles earned a spot in the third-place game by topping Lumen Christi 2-0, with Jiabao Leaf scoring both goals. Due to an injury, Brooke Kent, Gabe Bignell and Kobe Miller had to step in, and coach Leaf said they did a good job.

Noah Leaf, Meijan Leaf and Connor Leaf were all-tournament selections, with Connor Leaf getting MVP. Meijan was honored despite breaking her shoulder 20 minutes into the tournament.

All-conference nods went to Noah Leaf, Connor Leaf and Meijan Leaf, with Connor Leaf and Meijan Leaf getting MVP awards.

Zimmerman, Kent, Chase Miller and Noah Leaf were all-academic players, while CIA also got the sportsmanship award.

It was the last tournament for seniors Connor Leaf and Sydney Carey.

More in Sports

Kylie Northington of Nikiski JV brings the ball up against Ninilchik's Audry Herndon at the Keith Presley Memorial Tournament on Friday, February 14, 2025, at Ninilchik School in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Friday hoops roundup: Ninilchik girls, boys both win at Presley tourney

The Ninilchik girls and boys basketball teams both separated themselves from the… Continue reading

Soldotna's Kenai Lepule (55) was one of the players of the game at the Division II state championship at Colony High School in Palmer, Alaska, on October 26, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
SoHi’s Lepule to play football at Eastern New Mexico University

Soldotna senior Kenai Lepule signed in early February at play football at… Continue reading

tease
Thursday hoops roundup: Presley tourney gets going in Ninilchik

The Tok girls, Ninilchik boys, and Unalaska girls and boys picked up… Continue reading

Martin Flores skis into the finish to win the 40-kilometer Double Tour while carrying an Alaska flag during the Tour of Tsalteshi at Tsalteshi Trails near Soldotna, Alaska, on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tour of Tsalteshi race canceled

There will still be a ski event at the Tsalteshi’s trailhead on Kalifornsky Beach Road.

Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Ostrander records fastest Alaska half marathon

Anchorage’s Chris Clark had the previous record with her time of 1:15:27 in 2000.

tease
Wednesday hoops: Unalaska girls, Ninilchik boys pick up conference wins

The Unalaska girls and Ninilchik boys picked up Southern Conference victories Wednesday… Continue reading

Nikiski's Lynn Deveer drives on Homer's Henry Wedvik and Einar Pederson on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Tuesday: Nikiski girls, Homer boys notch conference wins

The Nikiski girls and Homer boys basketball teams picked up Peninsula Conference… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Tania Boonstra sets out from the start on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at the Lookout Mountain Cross-Country Ski Trails in Homer, Alaska. Boonstra, a junior, earned the title of Skimeister for the third year in a row at this weekend’s regional meet. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Colony’s girls, boys sweep Region III ski meet

SoHi’s Boonstra wins 3rd straight Skimeister

Most Read