The host Soldotna girls soccer team moved to 3-2-1 overall with a 7-1, nonconference victory over Palmer on Thursday.
Morgan Lemm had four goals for the Stars. Soldotna coach Jimmy Love said Lemm had been second-guessing the parts of her game early in the season.
“I told her not to focus on the little stuff,” he said. “Go out and play your game and be more physical.”
The Stars led 3-0 just 12 minutes into the game. Bay Bloom, Sadie Lane and Lemm, assisted by Bloom, had those goals. Lemm would score two more by the end of the first half — one assisted by Bloom and Zayra Poage and the other assisted by Jolie Widaman.
In the second half, Lemm, assisted by Lane, scored, as did Widaman.
Love said the team has struggled with slow starts this season, but that wasn’t the case Thursday.
“The girls came out and were a different team that started the first half of this game than any game prior,” he said. “Everything seemed to be clicking.”
Love said the defense was solid all game. He gave credit to the veterans for helping work young players into the defense as the game wore on.
He also complimented the versatility of Katharine Bramante, who can go from defense to midfield, depending on where Love needs her to play.
Palmer boys 1, Soldotna 0
The host Stars fell to 3-2-1 with a nonconference loss to the Moose.
Palmer took the lead 20 minutes into the first half.
Soldotna coach Erik Dolphin said Palmer saved a penalty kick in the second half, plus the Stars hit the crossbar and missed a few open nets.
“It should have been a different score line, but they played hard,” Dolphin said. “It was a crazy, physical game.”
Dolphin said Zac Buckbee was doing everything for the Stars, from defense to offense. Buckbee hit the crossbar and took the penalty kick that was saved. The coach also credited Quinn Cox for getting up and down the field despite playing every minute of the game.
Wasilla girls 3, Homer 0
The host Mariners dropped to 5-3-2 overall with the nonconference loss to the Warriors.
“It was a weird game,” Homer coach Mike Tozzo said. “It was super low energy. Maybe it was me letting them know it didn’t count. They played like they just didn’t care.”
Tozzo said he did a lot of subbing in the game, but felt like his team didn’t use the opportunity to get better.
He did credit Emma Grimes and Addi Grimes for strong games. The two both stepped into the center back positions due to injuries.
Homer boys 0, Wasilla 0
The host Mariners are 2-7-1 overall after a nonconference draw against the Warriors.
“I think it went really well,” Homer coach Adam Diaz said. “We were struggling with keeping possession in the first half and the communication was not there. In the second half, we started moving the ball and communicating. We started moving some guys around and doing more attacking.”
Lucas Story had the shutout in goal.
Diaz, who went to Wasilla High School, went to school with Wasilla coach Paul Sliwa. He said the two have developed a tradition of exchanging something school-related each time they see each other.
“We fought until the end and just had the courage as a whole team that we’re trying to instill every game,” Diaz said.
Kenai girls vs. Thunder Mountain
The game, scheduled for Thursday, was canceled due to travel issues for Thunder Mountain.
