The Homer hockey team defeated Soldotna 4-2 on Friday in Railbelt Conference action at the Kevin Bell Ice Arena in Homer.
The Stars won the shot count, but Homer goalie Keegan Strong was able to come up with 37 saves, while Soldotna’s Ayden See had 23.
In a game with only three penalties, the Mariners also had a big advantage on special teams, going 2 for 2 with the extra man, while Soldotna was 0 for 1.
Soldotna finishes the regular season at 11-8-2 and 6-4-2, while Homer is 7-10-1 and 6-5-1. The two teams split the season series. The Stars have an automatic berth to the Division II state tournament Feb. 3 to 5 in Wasilla, while Homer, which won the last two Division II state titles, is a likely pick for an at-large berth.
Fresh off scoring the overtime game-winner Thursday against Kenai, SoHi’s Gehret Medcoff, assisted by Josh O’Lena and Aiden Burcham, scored the lone goal of the first period.
Homer’s Matfey Reutov, assisted by Dylan Arno and Owen Pitzman, tied the game early in the second for Homer, but Daniel Heath scored unassisted with 9:59 left in the second to put SoHi ahead again.
With just 2 seconds left in the second, Matfey Reutov struck again on the power play. Micah Williamson had the assist.
Williamson put the Mariners ahead to stay with an unassisted strike with 9:09 left, then Casey Otis, assisted by Makary Reutov and Micah Williamson, scored on the power play with 8:29 left.
Friday
Mariners 4, Stars 2
Soldotna 1 1 0 —2
Homer 0 2 2 —4
First period — 1. Soldotna, Medcoff (O’Lena, Burcham), 7:48. Penalties — Homer 1 for 2:00.
Second period — 2. Homer, Mat. Reutov (Arno, Pitzman), 1:41; 3. Soldotna, Heath (un.), 5:01; 4. Homer, Mat. Reutov (Williamson), pp, 14:58. Penalties — Soldotna 1 for 2:00.
Third period — 5. Homer, Williamson (un.), 5:51; 6. Homer, Otis (Mak. Reutov, Williamson), pp, 6:31. Penalties — Soldotna 1 for 2:00.
Shots on goal — Soldotna 11-16-12—39; Homer 4-14-9—27.
Goalies — Soldotna, See (27 shots, 23 saves); Homer, Strong (37 shots, 35 saves).
