The Soldotna girls soccer team improved to 4-1-1 on Saturday by toppling Houston 9-1 in a nonconference game.
Soldotna coach Jimmy Love said it was a long three-game trip, but added his team is playing better after the trip.
Love said the Houston game was physical, so now the focus is getting rest Sunday before another tough week.
Rhys Cannava and Lily Coon had hat tricks for SoHi. Cannava’s goals were on assists by Liberty Miller, Jolie Widaman on a corner kick and unassisted. Coon’s goals were on assists from Cannava and Bay Bloom, Katie Delker and Cannava, and Cannava and Delker.
Morgan Lemm scored twice for SoHi, unassisted and assisted by Cannava. Liberty Miller had the other goal, assisted by Delker and Cannava.
Sunny Miller and Isabella Rodriguez split the game in net.
Kenai boys 3, Palmer 2
The visiting Kardinals moved to 4-2 with a nonconference victory Saturday.
Leif Lofquist had two goals and Koa Diorec had another as the Kardinals took a 3-0 lead into the closing minutes. Palmer closed the gap to 3-2 on a penalty kick and free kick, but Kenai was able to hang on.
Kenai coach Shane Lopez said the team did well, considering it was the third day of a three-game road trip.
“We moved the ball and played well,” he said. “Guys had good finishes, but we had a few that hit the post. You’ll have days like that, especially when you are on day three legs.”
Lopez said Samuel Baisden was strong setting up the attack, while Lucas Tunseth also aided the transition from defense to offense.
Kenai girls 0, Palmer 0
The visiting Kardinals sit at 1-4-1 after playing to a nonconference scoreless tie with the Moose.
“The girls improved daily and are getting more and more scoring chances,” Kenai coach Dan Verkuilen wrote in a text message. “Every player is giving their best and things are coming together.
“We’re very young and our JV was undefeated this weekend. Our big goal is to be ready for regions in a few weeks.”
Grace girls 4, Nikiski 0
The host Bulldogs fell to 0-7 with the nonconference loss to the Grizzlies on Saturday.
Nikiski coach Angie Coelho said Emma Weeks had over 15 saves in the net.
“We’re still honing our skills and trying to figure out what works for the players on the field,” Coelho wrote in an email.
Grace boys 4, Nikiski 2
The visiting Grizzlies took a 3-0 lead and held on for a nonconference victory Saturday.
“Even though it was a loss, there were a lot of wins for me from the coaching side,” Nikiski coach Harrison Deveer said after falling to 0-6. “They were really competing out there today.”
Austin Stafford and Gavin White both scored to cut the gap to 3-2, but when Grace scored with 10 minutes to play, Deveer said the wind went out of his team’s sails.
Deveer said James Lamping and Christopher Druesedow had nice games on defense.
Soldotna girls 6, Palmer 1
The visiting Stars moved to 3-1-1 overall with a nonconference victory over Palmer on Friday.
Rhys Cannava had a hat trick for the Stars, who led 4-0 at halftime.
Soldotna coach Jimmy Love said his girls played a lot better than in a Thursday loss to Colony, but he added the Knights are a better team than the Moose.
Bay Bloom started the scoring on assists from Cannava and Sierra Kuntz. Katie Delker then scored unassisted before Cannava closed the half with a pair of goals, the first assisted by Delker and Liberty Miller and the second assisted by Kuntz.
Palmer scored about 12 minutes into the second half, but Cannava scored again for a 5-1 lead. Lily Coon closed the scoring on an assist from Charyze Ray.
Sunny Miller played about 60 percent of the game in net and gave up the goal, while Isabella Rodriguez finished up in goal.
Soldotna boys 6, Palmer 0
The visiting Stars received another hat trick from Josh Hieber in registering a nonconference victory Friday. SoHi moves to 4-1 overall.
After a loss to a very good Colony team on Thursday, Soldotna coach Erik Dolphin said it was nice to get back on track.
“It was a different game than the Colony game,” Dolphin said. “It was good to come out, find possession early and move the ball.”
Trenton O’Reagan, Dennis Taylor and Jose Montague also found the back of the net for the Stars, while Gehret Medcoff recorded the shutout.
Colony girls 4, Kenai 0
The host Knights notched a nonconference victory over the Kardinals on Friday.
Colony boys 3, Kenai 0
The game matched the 2019 Division I state champions in Colony against the 2018 and 2019 Division II state champions in Kenai, with the host Knights winning to drop the Kardinals to 3-2 overall.
Kenai coach Shane Lopez said the Knights may be better than when they won state in 2019, with lots of speed, strength and skill.
“We just didn’t park the bus, hang on and hope,” Lopez said. “We came in with a plan to try and move the ball around their defensive setup.”
Lopez said the defensive line of Joe Hamilton, Wade James, Lucas Tunseth and Koda Poulin held up well under all the pressure.
Homer girls 1, Grace Christian 0
The host Mariners improved to 3-0-1 with a nonconference victory over the Grizzlies on Friday. Paige Jones found the back of the net for Homer.
Homer boys 2, Grace Christian 2
The host Mariners stand at 1-2-1 after the nonconference game with the Grizzlies. Eyoab Knapp and Jack Hrenchir scored for the Mariners.
