Homer Alaska - Sports

Homer's boys soccer team tied Palmer last Thursday in a rematch they'd been looking forward to for weeks. The Mariners lost 1-0 to Palmer at home May 7 and fought their way to the top of the Southern Division Northern Lights Conference to face the Moose again in the first round of conference championships.

Palmer scored the first game goal in the 26th minute off a corner kick. Homer's Burl Tonga came off the bench and matched the score with an unassisted goal in the eighth minute of the second half.

Regulation ended with a 1-1 score, but since a winner must be determined, the game went to a 10-minute overtime period. Then another. After 100 minutes of play, teams had up to five penalty kicks to claim the win.

Homer goalkeeper Grant Arseneau netted a high shot to give the Ms the lead after the Moose missed their first. Palmer followed with two goals before Robin Glosser found the net to bring the shootout to 3-2, but that would be all for Homer's scoring. Palmer won the shootout 4-2 to take the game 2-1.

"The kids played real well. It was a tough battle no doubt about it. I guess it probably always stings when you feel like you could have pulled it off," Head Coach Warren Waldorf said.

With only three seniors graduating, the majority of the team will remain intact, with the added experience of this year's successes.

"Good season, great kids. We're all looking forward to next year, but first we got to do some fishing. Or something," Waldorf said.

Robin Glosser made first all-conference team; Kyle Wisner and Konstantin Reutov made second team. Andre Lovett received the good sport award. Wasilla won the tournament, Grace took second, Colony third and Palmer fourth. Soldotna girls won the crown over Colony (second), Wasilla (third) and Kenai (fourth).