Homer Alaska - Sports

Four near-consecutive days of games took a toll on the Homer boys soccer team, which lost three players and two tough games last week. Despite, or because of, injuries to bodies and spirits, the Mariners are playing strong, smart and with heart.

The boys won 4-0 Tuesday in Seward, bringing their Northern Lights Conference record to 5-2 for the season.

Last Thursday, the boys won a 2-1 game with Nikiski, a team they've gone back and forth with for years.

A rough game with Colony Friday ended in a 0-3 loss for Homer, who has historically been shutout by more than 5 in matches with the valley team.

"To hold them to 0-3 after playing a tough game against Nikiski the night before is a positive development. It's positive. They played with them for the most part," Head Coach Warren Waldorf said.

Homer dominated most of the play Saturday, but missed shots that would have topped the one goal Palmer snuck in three minutes into the second half. The game ended 0-1 in Palmer's favor, through the Mariners look forward to a possible rematch at regions in a few weeks.

The Ms are ranked first or second in the NLC southern division, based on the outcome of last Wednesday's home game against Soldotna.

They host Houston at 4 p.m. Friday and Wasilla at noon Saturday.