The Kenai Central girls soccer team defeated Soldotna, while the boys played to a tie, Tuesday in nonconference action at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai.

The Kenai Central girls notched a 2-0 victory over Soldotna. The Kardinals are 2-0 overall, while the Stars are 0-1.

The Kardinals struck first in the 16th minute when freshman Brynnen Hanson scored on an assist from Tait Cooper.

Kenai head coach Dan Verkuilen sees a ton of promise in the freshman, who just got back from missing three weeks of soccer.

“She’s got a knack for the goal and moving the ball,” Verkuilen said. “Getting the endurance back and all that is going to be the thing, because she’s been gone for so long.”

Soldotna coach Jimmy Love can relate. While Kenai has been on its field for weeks, the Stars just got on their field yesterday.

“We’re a little out of shape,” Love said. “You can only do so much running in a gym.

“At the end of the day, it definitely impacts it, but I’m not going to blame it on that.”

Love said the space available on a field also takes some getting used to.

“So I think once they kind of got that figured out in the first half, at the end of the second half I thought they woke up and started shooting the ball more,” Love said.

In the second half, both Kenai goalie Maddie Malone and Soldotna goalie Sunny Miller were called upon to make some nice saves.

The only goal came from Kenai’s Kylee Verkuilen in the 71st minute. Kenai earned a direct kick from 25 yards out and while Soldotna was trying to set up the wall, Verkuilen took the kick early and caught the Stars off guard.

Love said Soldotna picked up three minor injuries in the game.

“When you only have one day to work with your core group, and then you go down three people, it’s kind of like, ‘OK, we’ll see what you guys are really made of,’” Love said. “I think one of those goals was due just to a lack of communication.”

Love said he graduated his entire defensive line from last season, plus star striker Rhys Cannava, who missed her senior season with injury. The coach said he has six seniors this season.

He said the big takeaway from today is that despite Kenai’s head start in field time, he doesn’t feel the Stars are that far behind.

In addition to Malone, coach Verkuilen said freshman sweeper Seanna Swanson, outside defender Cali Holmes and midfielder Kate Wisnewski played a big role in the shutout.

Coach Verkuilen said his team was able to keep the ball in Soldotna’s end better, but that the Stars were strong on the counterattack.

“It’s going to be like it always is — a great duel,” Verkuilen said of the rivalry with the Stars. “Soldotna’s going to get their legs as they get more field time.”

Kenai boys 1, Soldotna 1

The Kardinals are 2-0-1 after the draw, while the Stars are 0-0-1.

In the 15th minute, Zac Buckbee put the Stars up with a shot from the corner of the penalty area.

“I think he won the ball and picked up his head and figured why not,” Soldotna coach Erik Dolphin texted about the goal.

In the 21st minute, Bridger Beck did a throw-in into a bunch of bodies in the box. Enrique Mercado was able to win the ball and finish to tie it.

After that, Kenai goalie Ezekiel Yragui and SoHi goalie Luke Hillyer were able to keep the ball out of the net. Kenai coach Shane Lopez texted that Daniel Shelden and Landon Cialek were excellent on defense. Dolphin said Andrew Cox and Collin Peck were good on defense.

Dolphin said his team used a high press and had the upper hand for the first 20 minutes, but that Kenai, behind Mercado and Wade James, found its groove as was able to pick up the attack.

In the final 10 minutes, Dolphin said Gehret Medcoff had a few good looks, as did Lane Hillyer and Owen Buckbee. He also gave credit to Johnny Wardas for some good crosses and Andrew Arthur for good wing play.

“It was tough,” Dolphin texted. “With the cold and our lack of field time we had guys cramping up left and right.

“We had the jamboree and one practice on our field before today, so I am proud of the result. Would have loved to win it, but a tie is promising for the future of this squad.”

Soldotna’s Owen Buckbee and Kenai Central’s Sawyer Vann battle for the ball Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)