The Kenai and Soldotna girls, and Soldotna and Palmer boys, will play for the championships at the Division II state soccer tournament in the Matanuska-Susitna valleys.
The top-seeded Kardinals girls and No. 2 Soldotna will play at 11:30 a.m. at Wasilla High School for the title.
Friday, Kenai defeated No. 5 Monroe Catholic 2-1 and SoHi topped No. 6 Homer 3-1. Kenai is 2-1 against the Stars this season.
Both teams seek their second state title. The Kardinals are making their third straight trip to the finals, winning the title last season and losing to Soldotna in the final in 2023. The Stars are in a final for the fourth time.
Also for the girls, Homer plays Monroe for third place at 9 a.m. at Wasilla, and Grace Christian plays Palmer for fourth place at 8 a.m. at Colony.
For the boys, the No. 1 Stars and No. 3 Moose play for the title at 1:30 p.m. at Wasilla. SoHi topped No. 4 Kenai 4-0 in the semis, while Palmer knocked off No. 2 Ketchikan 4-3.
The Stars are back in the final for the fourth time after winning their first state title last season. SoHi and Palmer played to a 1-all tie this season.
Kenai will play Ketchikan for third at 9:45 a.m. at Colony. No. 6 Homer will face No. 8 North Pole for fourth at 9:45 a.m. at Palmer. Homer defeated No. 7 Houston 4-2 on Friday.
Soldotna girls 3, Homer 1
Thanks to a hat trick from Jillian Duncan, the Stars moved to 12-4-2 while dropping the Mariners to 4-9-1. SoHi finished 3-0 against Homer this season.
Soldotna took a 2-0 lead at the half. Duncan scored on an assist from Rowan Peck in the second minute, while Duncan scored against with help from Teagan Kobylarz in the 21st minute.
Talia Weisser scored midway through the second half to get the Mariners within a goal, but Duncan answered again five minutes later, this time on a Sadie Lane assist.
“The girls played a good game today,” Soldotna head coach Jimmy Love wrote in a text message.
Homer coach Mike Tozzo wrote in a text message that Weisser was the player of the game.
“It was an extremely physical game,” he wrote. “We had our opportunities to score and just couldn’t quite do it.”
Kenai girls 2, Monroe 1
The Kardinals got a penalty kick from Sarah Baisden in the 79th minute to move to 13-3 overall.
North Pole struck first in the first half in the 19th minute, but Katie Johnson, with help from Christine Goering, equalized in the 28th minute to set up Baisden’s game-winner.
Kenai head coach Jeff Siemers wrote in a text message that Katie Johnson got player of the game, while goalie Maddie Malone and midfielder Tait Cooper also had solid performances.
“We anticipated this matchup for the final and I am looking forward to defending our title,” Siemers wrote.
Soldotna boys 4, Kenai 0
Lane Hillyer had a hat trick and Luke Hillyer had a shutout as the Stars moved to 15-4-1 overall and dropped the Kardinals to 10-7-2.
SoHi head coach Erik Dolphin wrote in a text message that Kenai made it clear it didn’t want to lose a seventh straight time to SoHi.
“They had so much intensity to start the game,” Dolphin wrote. “We had to weather the storm because they were coming at us.
“Very physical, but they started with great ball movement. Once we were able to settle down we were able to get some control.”
Kenai head coach Shane Lopez wrote that Cole Langham, Enrique Mercado and Carson Grimm had great games in the midfield.
In the 33rd minute, Lane Hillyer got the ball in the midfield and dribbled into the box before scoring.
In the 43rd minute, Hillyer volleyed in a cross from Johnny Wardas.
In the 65th minute, Hillyer was fouled in the penalty box on a long throw-in. Daniel Heath finished the penalty kick.
A short time later, Hillyer was fouled 30 yards from goal. On the direct kick, he headed in a cross from Owen Buckbee.
“Lane played amazing,” Dolphin wrote. “He was a problem with the ball at his feet and finished with the hat trick.”
Dolphin wrote the Moose will be a tough.
“It is tough after the grind of multiple OTs and pens, but they will be a test,” Dolphin wrote. “We are confident and will prepare to try and have our best game of the season.”
Homer boys 4, Houston 2
The Mariners evened their record at 7-7-1.
Kai Waltenbaugh scored twice for the Mariners, while Kaiden Bogie and Justus Grimes also scored.
“It was a tough game but found a way to get a goal,” Homer head coach Tyler Jeffres wrote in a text message.
Jeffres wrote that goalie Gabriel Bradshaw persevered despite getting scored on twice with penalty kicks.
