The visiting Homer soccer teams swept Nikiski on Monday in Peninsula Conference soccer action, with the girls winning 5-1 and the boys notching a 7-0 victory.
The Homer girls moved to 4-2-2 overall and 4-0-1 in the league, while the Nikiski girls fell to 0-6 overall and 0-5 in the league. Homer’s boys are now 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the league while the Nikiski boys are 0-5 in the league and 0-5 overall.
“That’s just holding on to that potential No. 1 seed,” Homer coach Mike Tozzo said. “That’s what our mission was.”
The Mariners received goals from Laura Inama, Andie Sonnen, Raisa Basargin, Sienna Carey and Kate Baring. Kelli Bishop got the start in goal with Allie McCarron being sick and once again Tozzo said Bishop made the saves she had to.
“Overall, our defense did a good job,” Tozzo said. “The wind is just howling out here in Nikiski, and even against that wind, we kept the ball in the attacking third.”
Homer went against the wind in the first half and scored four of its five goals during that time.
Nikiski got its lone goal in the second half, with Jordyn Stock scoring on an assist from America Jeffreys.
Bulldogs coach Linda Zimmerman said her squad was working hard in the first half but was having a hard time with Homer picking off passes as the Bulldogs looked to work the ball upfield.
“In the second half, I felt like the girls were moving the ball upfield better and keeping their shape,” Zimmerman said.
The coach said Stock and Jeffreys played well at forward, while Aspen Hooper and Tika Zimmerman were solid in the midfield and Melanie Sexton played well at defense.
The Mariners now face a crucial road conference game against Soldotna at 4 p.m. Thursday. Meanwhile, the Nikiski girls travel to Redington at 4 p.m. Thursday for a nonconference affair.
Homer boys 7, Nikiski 0
The Mariners received three goals and two assists from Simon Dye, two goals from Dexter Lowe, a goal from Isaiah Nevak, a goal from Austin Shafford, an assist from Ethan Pitzman and an assist from Charles Rohr.
Homer coach Warren Waldorf said he was able to get players like Henry Russell, Tom Gorman and Pitzman more playing time than usual. Those players did well, allowing some of the older players to rest.
Waldorf said that rest was big with some key games coming up, including traveling to face Soldotna on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Nikiski boys travel for a 6 p.m. game at Redington.
