The host Soldotna girls soccer team moved to 6-1-2 overall on the season by defeating Ketchikan 5-0 on Saturday.
Stars coach Jimmy Love said the game was probably the best his squad has played all season.
“I’m happy with the way we came out and started and finished each half,” Love said. “That’s as close as we’ve gotten to having the girls play 80 minutes.
“They fell apart a few times but for the most part they pulled together and did what they were asked to do.”
In the sixth minute, Journey Miller, assisted by Ryann Cannava and Meijan Leaf, got the Stars off to a quick start. Less than 10 minutes later, Sierra Kuntz scored on an assist from Leaf.
In the fifth minute of the second half, Ella Stenga made it 3-0 when she completed a short-play corner kick from Cannava and Miller. SoHi would finish on scores from Leaf, assisted by Kuntz and Hannah Delker, and Paulyne Catacutan, assisted by Delker and Marina Walton.
Maddie Kindred had the shutout in net.
“Everyone, all the players off the bench, played well together,” Love said.
The Stars honored six seniors before the game: Hannah Wells, Stenga, Whitney Wortham, Kindred, Kassie Godfrey and Alaina Swensen.
Soldotna boys 1, Ketchikan 0
The Stars honored 12 seniors by edging the Kings in nonconference action Saturday. Soldotna pushed above .500 for the first time all season, moving to 6-5.
Soldotna coach Darryl Byerley was not happy with his team’s focus to start the game, but more than anything the coach was impressed with Ketchikan. The Kings played Dimond on Wednesday, Kenai on Thursday and Homer on Friday, and still had the legs to give the Stars all they could handle.
Byerley added there is only one state berth out of the Southeast Conference, which usually goes to Juneau. Byerley would like to see two at-large berths added to the six-team state event so teams like Ketchikan have a better chance of making it.
The lone goal of the game came 30 minutes into the first half, when Gavin Goggia took a free kick and connected with Josh Hieber for a goal.
Chase Miller had the shutout in net, while Byerley also credited outside and defensive midfielder Eli Wackler and defensive midfielder Sam McElroy with solid games.
The seniors honored for the Stars were Ethan Bott, Gavin Goggia, Christian Hames, McElroy, Sean McMullin, Miller, John-Mark Pothast, Cody Quelland, Eli Sheridan, Luke Trammell, William Gross and Patrick Gross.
Nikiski girls 8, Voznesenka 0
The Bulldogs notched a Peninsula Conference victory on the Homer High School field to move to 1-4 in the conference and 2-5 overall.
“I think they played pretty well,” Nikiski coach Linda Zimmerman said of her team. “I’m really happy with our offense. They worked well linking passes and did better crashing the net when they needed to. I also thought our defense was solid.”
Jordyn Stock had a hat trick, while Emma Wik and America Jeffreys each had two goals. Mike Olson had the final tally, while Abby Bystedt notched the shutout in net.
“Every time we play Voznesenka they get better and better,” Zimmerman said. “They’re good sports and we enjoy playing them.”
The coach said Aspen Hooper was solid at defense and in the middle of the field. Also, Italian foreign exchange student Elisa Fardin continued to show a lot of promise in her second varsity game.
Seward boys 3, Houston 3
The visiting Seahawks came back from a 3-1 deficit to draw even in the nonconference affair Saturday. Seward is now 3-2-2 overall.
Seward coach Dustin Phillips said his side was down 3-1 with 20 minutes to play and had an opportunity to win the game in the last minute, but could not capitalize.
Senior Simon Estes pumped in a couple of goals, while sophomore John Moriarity also rippled the back of the net. Brendan McMurray was in goal for Seward.
Ketchikan girls 2, Homer 1
The visiting Kings overcame a halftime deficit to topple the Mariners on Friday in nonconference action.
With five minutes left in the first half, Raisa Basargin scored to give Homer the lead, but Ketchikan equalized just three minutes into the second half, then scored the game-winner in the 79th minute.
“As soon as Ketchikan tied the game up there was a serious shift in the way the girls were acting,” Homer coach Mike Tozzo said after his team dropped to 3-4-2. “It was almost like they didn’t care they scored and they weren’t interested in trying to win the game at that point.”
In a Thursday loss to Soldotna, Tozzo also noticed a lack of what he called “intrinsic motivation” to win. The coach said he hopes this is just a dip in the season.
“I’m not blaming the girls and saying it’s all their fault,” Tozzo said. “Something’s gotta change and I’m not sure what it is.”
Tozzo said the Mariners were actually able to control quite a bit of the possession. He added Basargin did a great job getting shots, while Daisy Kettle was stout on defense.
Ketchikan boys 1, Homer 0
The visiting Kings scored during the first half Friday in nonconference play to bump Homer’s record down to 7-3 overall.
“I’m pretty speechless actually,” Homer coach Warren Waldorf said. “They’re definitely trying to work through some adversity and a rough patch so I don’t know.
“We’ll have to see if they make it through or not.”
Waldorf said he didn’t have his starting goalie due to illness. Daniel Reutov, normally a field player, started in goal but broke a pinkie. That meant Charles Rohr went into net, robbing the Mariners of a potent weapon up top.
“We had chances but they packed the box,” Waldorf said. “We didn’t find a way to finish.”
Nikiski boys 1, Houston 1
For the second straight day, the Bulldogs played to a tie in a nonconference game on the road. Nikiski’s record is now 0-5-2.
Near the start of the second half, Gavin White got on the end of a cross from Shane Weathers for a 1-0 lead for the Bulldogs. But right at the end of the game, the Hawks were able to find the equalizer.
Nikiski coach Harrison Deveer said his team had plenty of opportunities, including a missed penalty kick.
“We’re improving a lot, but we need to work on finishing,” Deveer said.
Seward girls 0, Redington 0
Makaira Williams kept the clean sheet for the visiting Seahawks in nonconference action Friday. The tie puts Seward’s record at 2-1-1 overall.
Seward boys 2, Redington 0
The visiting Seahawks moved to 3-2-1 overall with a nonconference victory Friday.
Senior Case Estes and freshman Max Pfeiffenberger scored the goals for Seward, while Brendan McMurray posted the shutout in net.
