Homer midfielder Timothy Blakely (center) battles for the ball against Grace’s Dylan Harris (23) and Luke Schaezlien Thursday in Division II soccer tournament play at Eagle River High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer midfielder Timothy Blakely (center) battles for the ball against Grace’s Dylan Harris (23) and Luke Schaezlien Thursday in Division II soccer tournament play at Eagle River High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer boys roll by Grace at state soccer

After last weekend’s marathon region semifinal against Soldotna left them gassed the next day against Kenai Central, the Homer boys knew they had to make quick work of their first opponent this weekend at the state tournament.

The Mariners did their best in a 5-1 quarterfinal win Thursday afternoon over Grace Christian at a sunny Eagle River High School, advancing them to a semifinal clash with Kenai today at 9 a.m. in the Division II state soccer tournament.

“We were trying to conserve as much energy as we could,” said head coach Warren Waldorf. “We have to play tomorrow at 9 a.m. That’s not much turnaround time.”

Homer sophomore Daniel Reutov helped the Mariners by scoring twice in the first 19 minutes.

“It’s just our coaching,” Reutov replied when asked how Homer started so fast. “In fact (Waldorf) told me to come in from the opposite side, we had the ball on the other side, and I came in unmarked.”

Reutov opened the scoring eight minutes in with a tap into the net after Grace goalkeeper Eliot Merriner deflected a shot directly in front of Reutov, who had a wide open goal staring back at him.

Reutov made it 2-0 Homer just 11 minutes later when he was able to shake off a Grizzlies defender and find space in the goal box, and converted the cross from the left corner.

The two strikes came amid several waves of Homer pressure up front, as the Mariners were able to find space in the middle to challenge the Grizzlies defense.

Simon Dye, Tom Gorman and Timothy Blakely also scored a goal each to secure the victory. Junior Tucker Weston played well in goal with five saves on six scoring opportunities.

With a two-goal lead for the final 60 minutes of game time, Homer was able to substitute a variety of starting players out, allowing their stars to rest up for Friday’s semifinal against Kenai.

Fifth-seeded Homer has proven it can keep up with the powerhouse Kenai boys when on fresh legs, as a 1-all draw from May 8 can attest, but last weekend at the Peninsula Conference tournament, the Mariners squeezed every last drop of energy out in a 100-minute thriller against SoHi, ultimately prevailing 6-5 in penalty kicks.

The monster effort left the Mariners weary against Kenai in the tournament final, which they lost 3-0.

As the top seed in this weekend’s state tournament, Kenai earned a first-day bye, leaving the Kards with Thursday off, while Homer played a full 80 minutes.

“We got up early this morning, talked about team energy, and just talked about team chemistry,” Reutov said. “Tonight we’ll rest, eat, drink lots of water and pretty much get in the mind-set for Kenai.”

Dye’s goal in the 27th minute put Homer up 3-0 at the half, but Grace refused to go quietly. The Grizzlies countered in the 57th minute of the second half when Paul Kopp launched a long strike from the left wing that rattled off the Homer crossbar for a Grace goal, cutting the lead to 3-1.

If the Mariners felt any trepidation after that response, they didn’t show it. Gorman struck back in the 76th minute with an assist from Phinny Weston, a goal that essentially iced the victory. Blakely added the cherry on top in the second minute of stoppage time to cap the game.

Homer’s Isaiah Nevak attempts to thwart the plan of Grace forward Paul Kopp Thursday in Division II soccer tournament play at Eagle River High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer’s Isaiah Nevak attempts to thwart the plan of Grace forward Paul Kopp Thursday in Division II soccer tournament play at Eagle River High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer’s Simon Dye (7) winds up for a goal scoring kick Thursday against Grace Christian in Division II soccer tournament play at Eagle River High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer’s Simon Dye (7) winds up for a goal scoring kick Thursday against Grace Christian in Division II soccer tournament play at Eagle River High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

More in Sports

Kenai Central High School and Nikiski Middle/High School’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate teams stand together for a photo after the first in-person match by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District teams on Monday, March 27, 2023 at Nikiski Middle/High School in Nikiski, Alaska. In the back from left to right is Koen Pace, Cody Good, Kage Adkins, Levi Kimbell, Lincoln Kimbell and Taisei Horiyasu. In front is Silas Thibodeau. (Photo provided by Kenai Central Esports)
Peninsula has 1st in-person esports match

Only one week remains for the regular esports season, and local teams… Continue reading

Snow falls on a fog-covered Beluga Lake on Thursday<ins>, March 30, 2023 in Homer, Alaska</ins>. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Out of the Office: Sometimes snow is not so bad

It’s nearly April, and with every two-or-more-day stretch of clear weather, I… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy sophomore Ian McGarry battles for a rebound against Birchwood Christian on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at Cook Inlet Academy just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
CIA’s Ian McGarry gets 1A boys Player of Year

Cook Inlet Academy sophomore Ian McGarry was named the Class 1A boys… Continue reading

The Kenai Central cheerleading team. Back row, left to right: Caitlyn Martin, Sylvia McGraw, Ayla Tallent, Sarah Baisden, Genesis Trevino, Malena Grieme, Maya Montague, Taya Swick and Cali Holmes. Front row, left to right: Ella Romero, Brooklynn Reed and Makenize Harden. (Photo provided)
Kenai cheerleaders win 3rd straight state title

The Kenai Central cheerleading squad won its third straight Division II March… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Nils Wallstrom celebrates winning a shootout over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Brown Bears sweep Ice Dogs, move into 3rd place

The Kenai River Brown Bears earned a two-game sweep over the Fairbanks… Continue reading

tease
Bears top Dogs, move into 4th place

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Fairbanks Ice Dogs 4-3 on… Continue reading

tease
Kenai girls take 4th, Kenai boys take 6th at state

The Kenai Central girls basketball team took fourth place and the Kardinals… Continue reading

Chad Anderson of Kasilof and Allie Ostrander guide Everett Anderson, 3, to the finish line Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the Salmon Run Series at Tsalteshi Trails. Getting the free ride on Chad’s shoulders is Ben Anderson, 2. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Ostrander, Gemmell make Alaska High School Hall of Fame

Allie Ostrander, a 2015 graduate of Kenai Central High School, and Joshua… Continue reading

Kenai Central High School esports players participate in a practice match of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ahead of a scheduled game at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Esports Week 6: Nikiski is 1st local team to earn playoff spot

Each of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s esports teams had a… Continue reading

Most Read