The Kenai Central girls soccer team capped a dominant season with a 2-0 win over Soldotna on Saturday, securing their second straight Division II state title in Wasilla. It was a crowning moment for a program that’s grown rapidly in recent years, with head coach Jeff Siemers leading the Kardinals (14-3) in his first year at the helm.
Brynnen Hanson struck early with a goal just eight minutes in from a tough angle, setting the tone in a tightly contested match between Peninsula rivals. The insurance came in the 51st minute when Kate Wisnewski found the net to put the Kards up 2-0. It was the fourth time the two teams faced off this season—Kenai won three of them.
On the other side, the Soldotna girls (12-5-2) were chasing their second state title in four appearances but came up just short. Head coach Jimmy Love said the Stars knew what they were up against and left everything on the field. It was a hard way to close the season for a senior class that had helped lead them to the final stage.
Meanwhile, the Soldotna boys also found themselves in the state championship game Saturday—but fell just short in a thriller against Palmer that ended in penalty kicks. After a 2-2 draw through regulation and four overtime periods, the Moose edged SoHi in the ninth round of penalty kicks to win the title. It was SoHi’s fourth state finals appearance on the boys’ side—they now hold a 1-3 record in those games.
Simon Willets scored early for the Stars, and Lane Hillyer kept the game alive with a dramatic equalizer in the final minute of overtime. The two sides then went kick for kick until Palmer finally got the winning edge.
In Anchorage, the Soldotna boys’ track and field team made a statement of their own at the state meet, capturing the Division I championship with a blend of depth, speed, and clutch performances.
The Stars claimed gold in the boys 4×400 relay—Ethan Anding, Brenden Jones, Parker Richards, and James Innes breaking the school record to do it—and took runner-up in both the 4×800 and 4×100. Tyce Escott added individual brilliance, winning the 200 meters and taking second in the 100 meters with a blazing 10.83 time. Luke Miller (shot put) and Wyatt Faircloth (110m hurdles, school record) also earned silver medals.
On the girls side, Soldotna stacked up relay victories and school records of their own, taking first in the 4×800, 4×100, and 4×200—highlighted by standout runs from Sasha Brott, Sophia Jedlicki, Shiloh Zichko, Sarah Brown, and others.
Jedlicki also finished second in the 400 meters–another school record–helping the girls finish third in the overall team standings.
Cover Photo Credit: Soldotna Track & Field Facebook page.
