Tuesday soccer: Kenai boys topple Nikiski; SoHi scores sweep in Homer

The Kenai boys soccer team defeated Nikiski 13-0 on Tuesday in Peninsula Conference action at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School.

The Kardinals move to 1-0-1 in the league and 4-2-1 overall, while the Bulldogs fall to 0-2-0 in the league and 0-2-0 overall.

Kenai Central head coach Shane Lopez said he got exactly what he wanted out of his team.

“We wanted the guys to move the ball around, work together, connect passes and communicate,” he said. “And I thought they did all those things.”

Lopez said it also was nice to get young players a lot of time on the field.

Ezra Jusmable had the shutout in net for the Kardinals.

Freshman Lucas Swanson had three goals and two assists, while fellow freshman Brett Goldsby had two goals and two assists.

Also for the Kardinals, Ryker Dykema had a goal and two assists, Reid Titus had two goals and Zane James had a goal and an assist.

Carson Grimm, Bobby Hayes and Eli Smith had goals, while Cole Langham, Gavin Liles and Tyler Jackman had assists.

Nikiski also had an own goal.

The Bulldogs are fielding a team of boys and girls this season after there were not enough numbers for a girls team.

Nikiski coach Horst Haunold said the Bulldogs participated in a junior varsity tournament at Soldotna last weekend and that helped the girls and boys learn how to better play together.

Haunold said that improved play didn’t show in the first half, when the Bulldogs fell behind 11-0.

“The first half, it felt like we were sleepwalking,” he said. “Second half, we kind of put it together. It was a much better game.”

Haunold said he had a talk with the team at halftime, and the second half showed the improvement Nikiski made at the junior varsity tournament.

The coach said Emily Brannen again did a solid job in goal.

Haunold liked the all-around play of Dylan Hall, and the defense of Frank Nasibog and Jayden Anderson.

“Kenai played a heck of a game,” Haunold said. “They played good. They played fair. I’m happy.”

Soldotna girls 2, Homer 1

The Soldotna girls improved to 1-0 in the Peninsula Conference and 3-3 overall by defeating the Mariners on Tuesday in Homer. The Mariners drop to 0-2 and 2-4.

Homer went up in the second half on a goal by Channing Lowney assisted by Katelyn Marroquin.

About 15 minutes later, Jillian Duncan scored on an assist by Sadie Lane. With about 10 minutes to play, Jazzalynn McDonald scored the game-winner.

Soldotna boys 3, Homer 0

The Soldotna boys moved to 2-0 in the Peninsula Conference and 5-2 overall with the Tuesday victory in Homer. The Mariners are 0-1-1 and 2-2-1.

The Stars broke a scoreless tie in the 50th minute, when Lane Hillyer scored on a Johnny Wardas assist.

“They were solid,” Soldotna head coach Erik Dolphin wrote of the Mariners in a text message. “They kept the ball away from us a lot in the first half. It frustrated us a bit.

“Once we were able to score we got momentum rolling.”

Dolphin wrote that Homer possesses the ball very well, but once Soldotna scored, the Mariners couldn’t afford to be as patient.

In the 55th minute, Simon Willets scored on a Lane Hillyer assist. In the 67th minute, Daniel Heath finished it off with help from Trae Pitsch.

Luke Hillyer had his second straight shutout. Dolphin said the goalie had several big saves at the end to seal the game.

Homer head coach Tyler Jeffres wrote in a text message that it was a game of two halves. The coach wrote that Homer dominated the first half, while Soldotna finished in the second half.