The host Kenai Central soccer teams split with Grace Christian on Saturday in nonconference play.
The Kardinals girls topped the Grizzlies 1-0 to avenge a Friday loss to Grace, while the Grizzlies boys topped Kenai 3-1 for the second win over the Kardinals in two days.
Kenai girls coach Dan Verkuilen said his team played much better Saturday.
“With a game behind us, that enabled us to talk about the things we needed to work on,” Verkuilen said.
First, Verkuilen said the Kards did a much better job marking Grace’s dangerous attackers without stabbing at the ball with their feet. Second, Verkuilen said the team played better diagonal balls to take advantage of speed.
The deciding moment in the game was 10 minutes into the second half, when Chloe Goldsby got the ball at midfield and carried it all the way until putting a shot in the corner. Rylie Sparks also had a breakaway for the Kards that went wide.
“We moved the ball through better and put more pressure on Grace than yesterday,” Verkuilen said.
Maddie Malone got the shutout in net, with the defense playing better than Friday, according to Verkuilen. The defenders were Valerie Villegas, Cali Holmes, Grace Beiser and Kate Wisnewski. The coach also said Wisnewski and Kylie Verkuilen did a good job moving the ball in the midfield.
“It was a team effort,” Verkuilen said. “Everybody put in a better effort than yesterday and it was hard to pick anybody out.”
After losing to Grace 3-0 on Friday, the Kenai boys got their first goal of the season Saturday. After the Grizzlies had taken an early 1-0 lead, Wade James scored on an assist from Cole Langham. Kenai boys coach Shane Lopez said Langham intercepted a pass with his chest, settled the ball at his feet, then played a perfect ball over the top to James.
Grace had goals late in the first and second halves to take the victory.
“Overall, we were encouraged with these early season games,” Lopez said. “The guys played better today than yesterday, and that’s what we’re looking for this season, is improvement.”
Lopez said Koda Poulin did a good job keeping Grace’s dangerous forward from getting the ball as much, though the forward still broke through for some goals. The Kenai coach also said Sam Baisden and Aloshia Cross did a good job getting the ball up to the forwards.
“We had more opportunities today and spent more time in our attacking third,” Lopez said.
