The Kenai Central girls and Soldotna boys won matches against their Peninsula Conference rivals Saturday at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School.
The Kardinals girls notched a 1-0 victory against the Stars to move to 2-0 in the league and 6-2 overall. The Stars, who lost to Kenai 1-0 in a nonconference game earlier this season, fell to 1-1 and 3-4.
In the 56th minute, Katie Johnson scored the game-winner with help from Brynnen Hanson. Maddie Malone shut the Stars out for the second time this season.
Kards head coach Jeff Siemers wrote in a text message that Sarah Baisden did well in the midfield, and Evelyn Cooper and Seanna Swanson both played well on defense.
SoHi head coach Jimmy Love wrote that his team put in a solid effort.
“It was a physical game but there is not just a person to mention,” Love wrote. “The entire team, including those coming off the bench, played a great game. It just was not ours today.”
The Soldotna boys, who had topped Kenai 1-0 a week earlier, won 3-1 to move to 3-0 and 6-2. The Kards fall to 1-1-1 and 5-4-1.
In the 13th minute, Johnny Wardas was fouled in the box and Trae Pitsch hit the left post on a penalty kick. Lane Hillyer banged in the rebound.
Early in the second half, Kenai was fouled in the box and Cole Langham banged home the penalty kick to knot the score.
“I think they outplayed us for the last 15 or so minutes of the first half,” SoHi head coach Erik Dolphin wrote in a text message. “We got back in the groove after they scored the PK. Woke us up a bit and we scored soon after.”
In the 63rd minute, Owen Buckbee had a long throw-in and Daniel Heath nodded it home.
With minutes left to play in a very physical game, Kenai put everybody up for a direct kick with the hope of scoring. The Kards played the ball deep into the box and SoHi goalie Luke Hillyer punched the ball from danger.
Lane Hillyer hit Harold Rudstrom with an outlet pass, then the two sprinted the field before Rudstrom found Hillyer for the score.
Kenai head coach Shane Lopez said his team played well. He was proud of the midfield, particularly Bridger Begich. The coach also said Langham, Carson Grimm and Ben Harris were solid in the midfield and on defense.
