The visiting Kenai Central and Soldotna hockey teams were able to notch wins over Homer this weekend.
Friday, the Kardinals topped the Mariners 3-2 in overtime to move to 4-1. It was the third overtime loss this season for Homer.
Saturday, Soldotna put up a 5-1 victory over the Mariners. SoHi moves to 3-2, while Homer falls to 1-5.
Friday, Homer got out to a 2-0 lead after the first period on goals from Casey Otis and Kazden Stineff.
Kenai coach Scott Shelden told the Homer News getting down early was a test for his team.
“We play for each other,” he said. “And when you play for each other you don’t get frustrated, and you stick with it for 45 minutes. We got lucky, you know, but we stuck with it. Didn’t give up or get frustrated.”
Blake Bucho scored in the second period for a 2-1 game, then Tucker Vann struck in the third to send the game into overtime.
Just 43 seconds into the extra frame, Reagan Graves ended it.
Sheldon said it felt great for the team to come back from 2-0 to win the game.
“Homer is just playing so hard, I mean it was such a great game,” he said. “But yeah, fun to win in overtime.”
Keegan Strong had 37 saves for Homer, while Tommy Baker stopped 20 for the Kards.
Saturday, Soldotna received first-period goals from Spencer Kapp and Silas Larsen. In the second, Homer cut the lead in half with a goal from Karl Wickstrom.
Soldotna closed strong in the third on goals from Aiden Burcham, Andrew Arthur and Gavin Haakenson.
Ayden See made 13 saves and stopped a penalty shot to get the win for SoHi. In his first varsity start, Blaise Banks stopped 19 for the Mariners.
Soldotna coach Indy Walton said special teams came up big in the game, with a power-play goal and a short-handed goal.
Friday
Kardinals 3, Mariners 2, OT
Kenai 0 1 1 1 —3
Homer 2 0 0 —2
First period — 1. Homer, Hatton (un.), 12:43; 2. Homer, Stineff (Green, Otis), 14:48. Penalties — Homer 1 for 2:00.
Second period — 3. Kenai, Bucho (Stock, Vann), 4:45. Penalties — Kenai 1 for 2:00; Homer 1 for 2:00.
Third period — 4. Kenai, Vann (Bucho, Erwin), 6:45. Penalties — Kenai 4 for 8:00; Homer 5 for 10:00.
Overtime — 5. Kenai, Graves (un.), 6:45. Penalties — none.
Goalies — Kenai, Baker (22 shots, 20 saves); Homer, Strong (40 shots, 37 saves).
Saturday
Stars 5, Mariners 1
Soldotna 2 0 3 —5
Homer 0 1 0 —1
First period — 1. Soldotna, Kapp (O’Lena), 5:21; 2. Soldotna, Larsen (Kapp), 9:43. Penalties — Soldotna 1 for 2:00.
Second period — 3. Homer, Wickstrom (Otis, Stineff), 13:07. Penalties — Soldotna 3 for 6:00; Homer 2 for 4:00.
Third period — 4. Soldotna, Burcham (Howell), 3:05; 5. Soldotna, Arthur (un.), 10:54; 6. Soldotna, Haakenson (Walton, Burcham), 12:36. Penalties — Soldotna 3 for 6:00; Homer 4 for 8:00.
Goalies — Soldotna, See (14 shots, 13 saves); Homer, Banks (24 shots, 19 saves).
