Kenai Central’s Samuel Baisden keeps the ball from Homer’s Austin Cline on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central’s Samuel Baisden keeps the ball from Homer’s Austin Cline on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Prep roundup: Homer girls soccer tops Kenai to stay unbeaten

The visiting Homer soccer team stayed undefeated by topping Kenai Central 1-0 in Peninsula Conference play Thursday.

“Our goal was to come here and keep ourselves in contention for the No. 1 seed,” Homer girls coach Mike Tozzo said. “Two wins over Kenai sets us up to do that.”

The Mariners are now 3-0-1 in the league and 4-0-1 overall, while the Kardinals fall to 0-3 and 1-6-1. Saturday, Homer hosts Soldotna, also undefeated in the league, at 2 p.m. in a game that will go a long way in determining the top seed.

Despite the loss, Kenai girls coach Dan Verkuilen continues to be happy with his young team’s progression.

“I think we’re just improving,” Verkuilen said. “It sounds corny, but that game against them and against Soldotna was a lot better than the first game.”

The defenses both had a strong game limiting chances.

Tozzo said goalie Felicia Weisser was called upon to make four saves. He gave credit to defensive midfielders Jessica Sonnen and Paige Jones for keeping chances down.

Verkuilen said he has three starting defenders out right now, but said Calani Holmes, Valerie Villegas, Julia Hansen and Grace Beiser are all getting the job done on defense.

The only goal of the game came 25 minutes in on a free kick. Debbie Weisser put the shot on net and Kappa Reutov converted the rebound.

Homer has just won one of its games this season by more than a goal, but it is the wins that count.

“Scoring is not necessarily our thing,” Tozzo said. “The girls continue to play well and disciplined.”

Kenai also has struggled to get balls in the back of the net, but Verkuilen thinks that is coming as midfielders Kylee Verkuilen and Bethany Morris create better and better combinations with the forwards.

Homer boys soccer 0, Kenai 0

Homer’s Lucas Story and Kenai’s Aidan Milburn kept clean sheets Thursday at Kenai in Peninsula Conference action.

“That’s just the game,” Kenai coach Shane Lopez said. “Sometimes the ball doesn’t go in the back of the net.”

Lopez said Homer played well and had a few players back since the Kards won 4-0 on April 22.

“We looked good and kept it tight in the back,” Lopez said. “We had our chances but didn’t hit the back of the net.”

Lopez said Joe Hamilton kept the defense organized and captain James Baisden started many good chances from the midfield.

“He’s a leader for us on the field and off of it,” Lopez said.

Homer coach Adam Diaz said he emphasizes volume of communication and attitude with his team.

“I would say we went into the game with a spartan mentality,” Diaz said. “We’ve been instilling fighting to the end, and that’s what really got the boys going today.”

Juneau girls soccer 4, Soldotna 0

The visiting Crimson Bears prevailed in a nonconference battle of Division II powerhouses Thursday to drop the Stars to drop to 6-2-1 overall.

“I’m not happy to lose, though I thought the girls played one of the better games they’ve played all season,” Soldotna girls coach Jimmy Love said. “The score doesn’t always represent that.”

The game was scoreless for the first 36 minutes, then Juneau tucked away a few goals Love thought were soft before the end of the half.

“I do think we have the ability to tighten that game up,” Love said. “We need to put more pressure on their defense and keeper. We didn’t have a lot of offensive power, but we definitely moved the ball.”

Love said neither team scored for most of the second half, then Juneau put the game away with two nice shots.

“I thought the girls played the style of game we want to play in every game we play,” Love said. “They played physical, hard, and passing to space or feet when necessary. They were doing everything at a much faster pace and that’s what we expect every game we play.”

Love said the defense faced its toughest test this season. He said the unit responded with its best game of the season.

Homer baseball 18, Houston 17

The host Mariners held on Thursday to notch their first victory of the season, moving to 1-3 in the Southcentral Conference and 1-6 overall.

“It was good to finally get a win,” Homer coach Rich Sonnen said. “We gave them lots of chances to win, but we pulled it out.”

Sonnen said just about everybody got hits for his squad. Harrison Metz was 3 for 6 with four RBIs and a triple, Austin Ceccarelli was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, and Gabe Dash was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

“Our pitching was not too bad but our defense is not doing so hot,” Sonnen said.

Dash went 5 2-3 innings, giving up five runs — three earned — on nine hits while striking out two.

Ceccarelli gave up four runs in an inning, but just one was earned.

Kenai Central defender Valerie Villegas keeps the ball from Homer’s Sela Weisser in front of Kenai goalie Emma Beck on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central defender Valerie Villegas keeps the ball from Homer’s Sela Weisser in front of Kenai goalie Emma Beck on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

More in Sports

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

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Can things get even better?

The silvers are starting to get their finny freak on at our famous Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon.

Runners line up at the start for the Seldovia Salmon Shuffle 5K race on Friday, July 4, 2025, in Seldovia, Alaska. Photo courtesy Ecola Collier
255 do the Salmon Shuffle

The 5K race is held annually as part of Seldovia’s 4th of July celebrations.

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Hard luck at the fishing hole

The action wasn’t as hot as in the past, but neither was the run.

Seward's Fred Moore stands at the base of Mount Marathon in Seward, Alaska, on Monday, June 24, 2019. Moore will run in his 50th consecutive Mount Marathon race on July 4. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
‘It’s been a good run’

Seward’s Moore explains his decision to end his Mount Marathon streak at 54

Matthew Schilling of the American Legion Post 20 Twins slides safely past Eagle River catcher Jack Mullen on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Monday: Twins keep rolling with sweep of Eagle River

The American Legion Post 20 Twins swept Eagle River on Monday at… Continue reading

Sharon Tyone, Dan Aaronson and Jessica Small make the "real life slot machine" work at the Oilers All-Star Family Field Day on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Oilers return to field for All-Star Family Field Day

It was only for a day, but the Peninsula Oilers were able… Continue reading

David Norris, 34, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, wins the men's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Norris goes 6 for 6 in Mount Marathon men’s race; Moore’s streak ends at 54 races

One streak lived while another streak ended during a brilliantly sunny men’s… Continue reading

Anchorage's Klaire Rhodes, 27, wins the women's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Rhodes defends women’s Mount Marathon crown

With Seward stuffed with people for 97th running of the Mount Marathon… Continue reading

The juniors start at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Zuber, Flagstad capture junior Mount Marathon races

Kenai’s Boonstra takes 2nd in junior girls race

tease
Thursday: Twins finish strong road trip by sweeping South

The visiting American Legion Post 20 Twins picked up 10-0 and 18-5… Continue reading