The visiting Soldotna soccer teams swept Nikiski on Monday in Peninsula Conference play.
The Soldotna girls notched an 8-0 win while the boys registered a 14-1 triumph.
Stars girls coach Jimmy Love was once again happy with his team after the Stars improved to 7-1-2 overall and 6-0-1 in the conference. The Bulldogs dropped to 1-5 and 2-6.
“I think we’re having more buy-in from the players,” Love said. “They’re seeing what we’re telling them is resulting in more field coverage and scoring opportunities.”
Just two minutes into the game, Journey Miller, assisted by Meijan Leaf, started the scoring from a shot just outside the box. Miller would score on another long shot in the second half to complete her hat trick.
“She’s got that measured from the 18 — as long as she has a little space,” Love said.
Just six minutes later, Miller headed in a corner kick from Sierra Kuntz for a 2-0 lead. Kuntz would also assist on the next goal — a throw-in that Leaf used to score. The Stars then took a 4-0 lead into halftime when Katie Delker scored a corner kick from Miller.
After Miller’s goal to open the second half on helpers from Faith Glassmaker and Leaf, Leaf scored on a through ball from Kianna Holland. Leaf then completed a hat trick of her own on a through ball from Miller.
In the 34th minute, Mykenna Foster scored her first varsity goal after being set up by Serena Larrow.
Behind a defense using a new formation, goalie Maddie Kindred had the shutout.
The Stars were missing four starters to start the game, and Ryann Cannava left the game with an injury.
“With the number of people we had out, we had a lot of (junior varsity) swingers step up and play more minutes than they had been playing,” Love said. “They all meshed well.”
Soldotna boys 14, Nikiski 1
With six goals from Josh Hieber, the Stars improved to 6-4 and 3-3 while the Bulldogs fell to 0-6-2 and 0-5.
“It was good for us to come out, possess, pass and move the ball,” Soldotna coach Darryl Byerley said. “It’s always a challenge to change surfaces from turf to grass, but we did possess and connect passes better than we did against Ketchikan.”
Byerley also was happy to see a wide range of scorers. Gavin Goggia and Luke Trammell added two goals, while Eli Sheridan, Chase Miller, Christian Hames and John-Mark Pothast scored. It was the first varsity goal for Pothast.
Nikiski coach Harrison Deveer said his team was nursing a few injuries. With an important game at Seward at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Deveer said he used many junior varsity players to give his varsity players a rest.
The coach said Trevor Mysing continues to impress him on defense.
Soldotna’s Luke Trammell tries to turn on Nikiski’s Michael Weathers on Monday, May 7, 2018, at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski’s Hannah Young and Soldotna’s Kortney Birch battle for the ball Monday, May 7, 2018, at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
