The visiting Kenai Central girls soccer team moved to 4-0-1 overall after playing to a tie in a physical game with Wasilla on Friday in Northern Lights Conference action.
Kenai goalie Alli Steinbeck saved a penalty kick late in the game to preserve the tie, while Heidi Perkins had the lone tally for the Kards.
Wasilla boys 2, Kenai 0
The visiting Kardinals fell to 2-2-1 after losing to the Warriors.
Kenai coach Joel Reemtsma said the difference in the game was finishing.
“We dominated possession and had some golden chances,” Reemtsma said. “We had the first main chance — Austin McKee hit the crossbar in the second minute.
“Wasilla is a direct team. They play deep to their two star forwards. They hope those guys can do something, and they can.”
Wasilla scored early in the game off a corner kick, then late on a counterattack when Kenai was pressing forward for the equalizer.
“We’ve got a lot of youth up front, and the poise and finishing touch is just not there yet,” Reemtsma said. “Even some of the older guys missed shots.
“I’m confident they’ll hit them when the time comes.”
The coach said Kevin Ramos, Nate Saavedra and Austin McKee all did a great job in the midfield.
He also said freshman Riley McKee moved into a starting role as a back and did a fantastic job.
Colony girls 6, Nikiski 0
The visiting Bulldogs fell to 1-6 with the NLC loss to the Knights, who moved to 4-2-1.
Nikiski coach Troy Zimmerman said his team was down 2-0 at half, and he added it could have been 1-0 if it hadn’t been for a rare misjudgment by goalie Rachel Thompson, regarded as one of the top keepers in the state.
“The defense really stepped up,” Zimmerman said.
Hallie Riddall was at sweeper, Hannah Love was at stopper, and Desmeranda Napoka and Melanie Sexton also were at defense.
In the second half, Zimmerman switched some players around to find more offense and the Knights were able to get four more goals.
The coach said Molly Cason did a good job at forward with Thompson, who moved to forward in the second half.
Maddy Zmuda had the shutout for Colony. Peyton Johnstone and Kaylee Mahler each had a pair of goals, while Sahara Iverson and Ripley Wakaliuk added tallies.
Colony boys 6, Nikiski 1
Jake Forstner had a hat trick as the host Knights notched an NLC win and moved to 10-3-1 overall.
Nico Castro had a late goal for the Bulldogs, who fell to 2-5.
Less than five minutes into the game, Russell Diotta and Alex Valdez had the defending state champions off to a 2-0 lead. Jao Marques also had a first-half goal for the Knights.
Homer boys 3, Palmer 1
The visiting Mariners moved to 2-1-2 with a victory against the Moose on Friday. Charles Rohr had the hat trick for Homer.
Homer girls 4, Palmer 1
The visiting Mariners moved to 2-5-1 overall with an NLC victory over the Moose on Friday.
Soldotna boys 9, Houston 1
The visiting Stars improved to 5-1 with an NLC triumph over Houston.
The Stars took a 2-0 lead at the half. Charalambos Asimakopoulos started the scoring in the 11th minute, then Jeremy Godfrey, on an assist from Asimakopoulos, scored in the 28th minute.
Coach Darryl Byerley said the second half was highlighted by the contributions of many JV players, including the hat trick of Luke Trammell.
Bailey Jones, normally the goalie, had a pair of second-half goals, while Godfrey and Ryan Winter added tallies.
Soldotna girls def. Houston
The visiting Stars rolled to a big victory over the Hawks on Friday in NLC play.
Soldotna coach Jimmy Love said he didn’t have many of his JV players along so the score got lopsided.
“We played our game,” Love said. “Instead of playing down to the opponent’s level, we came out and played well.”
Grace Christian girls 2, Seward 0
The host Grizzlies knocked off the Seahawks in NLC play Friday.
“We played really well and had our chances,” Seward coach James Wayne said after falling to 0-2. “I think they were in our end more than we were in their end, but it was a good game all around and the girls played hard.”
The coach said the nice thing was that the Seahawks had a sub Friday. In the opening match against Houston, Seward was down to nine players due to injury.
Wayne said Chloe Baldwin did well at center midfield, while Randi Tolson was solid in goal.
Grace boys 4, Seward 0
The visiting Seahawks fell to 1-1 with a loss to the Grizzlies.
“We played well and controlled the ball at times,” Seward coach Dustin Phillips said. “We created a few chances. We hope to learn from this and get better for the next one.”
Phillips said Jesus Sanchez got the job done at center midfield, while center back Ronnie Jackson also stood out for his play.
