The 2016 Borealis Conference Soccer Championships, hosted by Cook Inlet Academy, opens three days of competition on Thursday, September 29th at the Kenai Soccer Complex. Nine conference teams are seeded into the tournament.
Regular Season Recap (provided by CIA)
The Delta Huskies earned the top seed overall while Cook Inlet Academy sits atop the southern division. CIA opens up play Thursday morning at 10:30 against the 4th seed in the south, Birchwood Christian School. The Eagles have met and defeated the Warriors three times this season by scores of 2-1, 3-1, and most recently 5-3.
CIA Season Recap (provided by CIA Coach Kenny Leaf)
The Eagles’ journey to recapture the Borealis Championship will be led by senior captains Brady Hammond (GK) on defense and Noah Leaf (MF)in the attack. Leaf leads the Conference with 38 goals in 16 games this season while Hammond is the reigning goalkeeper of the year. The Academy roster features several other talented players. Senior Dalton Warren anchors the defensive alongside his sister Adara. Sophomore James Anderson has scored important goals in critical matches from his holding midfield position. Wingers Jiabao Leaf and Kate Zimmerman have proven difficult for defenses to contain, while strikers Hunter Moos (6 goals) and Breona Delon (5 goals) find ways to score in tight spaces. “The kids are excited to be playing at home,” said coach Leaf. “Last year we were shoveling snow off the fields and painting fluorescent lines to play. We don’t seem to get many home matches, so this is special.”
The 2016 Borealis Conference Soccer Championships open on Thursday with Wasilla Lake Christian playing Tri-Valley in the 9:00 a.m. pairing.
CIA opens tournament play against Birchwood in the 10:30 a.m. contest.
Borealis Conference Tournament Bracket: Click Here!
