Homer’s Laura Inama and Kenai Central’s Damaris Severson battle for the ball Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer’s Laura Inama and Kenai Central’s Damaris Severson battle for the ball Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer, Kenai play to ties in girls, boys games

Score a win for the wind.

The host Kenai Central and Homer girls played to a scoreless tie Tuesday in Peninsula Conference action.

As it often does this time of year at Ed Hollier Field, a cold wind streamed across the pitch, making the ball hard to settle, especially on the fast surface of artificial turf.

“The wind, of course, is always a factor,” said Kenai coach Dan Verkuilen.

The Mariners are now 3-0-2 overall and 1-0-2 in the league, while the Kardinals are 2-1-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the league.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“It was a weird game,” Homer coach Mike Tozzo said. “There was lots of kicking. The wind was definitely a factor.”

Homer has now tied traditional conference powerhouses Soldotna and Kenai early in the season, signaling more tight competition to come.

“That’s what you want — more competition,” Verkuilen said. “We just don’t want to show up and make it to state every year.”

Of the two coaches, Verkuilen was happier with his team’s play. The Kardinals were able to take 10 shots, putting eight on frame.

In a 2-1 victory over North Pole on Saturday, the Kards had 24 shots and put 12 on frame, with two finding the back of the net.

“We’re making gradual progress and that’s what we talk about,” Verkuilen said. “We had better shot placement, inside-outside passing and communication.”

Both teams would have had to be extra precise to score because Homer goalie Ali McCarron and Kenai goalie Kailey Hamilton were alert in picking up any stray balls in the box.

“Both goalies are probably two of the best goalies in the state,” Verkuilen said. “You have to be good to get it past either of them.”

Tozzo said his team had trouble mounting much of an attack while Kenai was able to break through with some chances on his defense. In the 25th minute, McCarron had to make a diving save on a shot by Damaris Severson.

“Ali had a great game,” Tozzo said. “She had to work a lot and that’s not what we like to see. She saved us.”

Tozzo said his team played better in the second half.

Verkuilen liked the work of Olivia Brewer and Alyssa Bucho up front. Severson and Alissa Maw put up stout resistance on defense, while Bethany Morris distributed the ball well.

Homer boys 1, Kenai 1

The boys from Homer and Kenai ended a high-paced struggle in a tie Tuesday night on the Mariners home field.

The Mariners are 3-1-1 overall and 1-1-1 in the Peninsula Conference. The Kardinals move to 2-2-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the conference.

Kenai’s lone goal came about 24 minutes into the first half from sophomore Leif Lofquist.

Homer’s answering goal came early in the second half from junior Daniel Reutov on an assist from sophomore Phinny Weston, who played his first game of the season Tuesday night. Senior Ethan Pitzman also played for the first time, coach Warren Waldorf said, having only returned to town the night before.

Homer took several shots in the second half, but couldn’t get more than one past keeper Braedon Pitsch.

“Did you see that goalkeeper down there?” Waldorf said. “He was huge. … He had a couple of nice saves.”

“(Kenai) had a good back line, you know, and they just kept knocking it out of there,” he continued. “It was tough to find a way through.”

Waldorf commended his team for fighting back from being one down, especially after he made an adjustment early in the second half, causing the Mariners to play a completely different system.

“We took advantage of the sun and the wind at our back in the second half, and that was a beautiful goal that they scored,” he said.

Waldorf also acknowledged that his team held off Kenai’s offense while operating with one less player on the back line.

The Mariners are headed next to three games in the Southeast, with what Waldorf said will be short rosters. He hopes to come back without any injuries. He then looks forward to resting the team a bit, which is finally complete in terms of its players.

Megan Pacer wrote the boys capsule. Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.

Kenai Central’s Anya Danielson prepares to clear the ball in front of Homer’s Jessica Sonnen on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central’s Anya Danielson prepares to clear the ball in front of Homer’s Jessica Sonnen on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai’s Francisco Garmen Munarriz jumps for a the same ball as Homer’s Avram Salzmann during a Tuesday, April 16, 2019 game at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Kenai’s Francisco Garmen Munarriz jumps for a the same ball as Homer’s Avram Salzmann during a Tuesday, April 16, 2019 game at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

More in Sports

Mike Lundgren of Homer, playing for the Kenai River Wolfpack, snatches the ball from Austin Hinton of the Bird Creek Barbarians at the Kenai Dipnet Fest Rugby 10s Tournament at Kenai's Millennium Square on Saturday, July 19, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Dipnest Fest: Alaska Rugby Union Hall of Fame event with a Hall of Fame organizer

The Kenai Dipnet Fest Rugby 10s Tournament has been held at Kenai’s… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Watching the fish roll in

The incoming tide was headed our way so we could restart our game of “Spot the violations” as the silvers rolled in.

Martin Flora leads Jerry Parsons on the way to winning the Modified Dirty 30 on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Twin City Raceway in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Flora wins Modified Dirty 30 at Twin City Raceway

Martin Flora of Fairbanks won the Modified Dirty 30 on Saturday, July… Continue reading

tease
Janssen, Fallon win 1st 2 weeks of Salmon Run Series

The Salmon Run Series at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna drew… Continue reading

tease
Results posted for Races 1 and 2 at Soldotna Cycle Series

The Soldotna Cycle Series held its first two races of the season… Continue reading

tease
Twins sweep road trip, win 14th straight game

Editor’s note: The story corrects the length of the Twins winning streak.… Continue reading

Daniel Steffensen bats against the Post 35 Road Warriors on Saturday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park as part of the 100th anniversary of American Legion Baseball in Alaska. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
100 years of Legion baseball in Alaska celebrated Saturday

Twins defeated the Post 35 Road Warriors

Zac Cowan putts a golf ball into a hole during the Alaska Sign Source Pro Am at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Azzara, Moore win Birch Ridge Pro Am

The top four pros were rounded out by Zac Cowan with 78 and Bill Engberg at 84.

tease
1st Soldotna Cycle Series of the year draws 49

The first Soldotna Cycle Series race took place Thursday, July 10, at… Continue reading

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in