Knights stay in race with late goal

WASILLA — The Soldotna Stars edged Colony in overtime 2-1 on Friday. But with a Colony win and Soldotna loss on Saturday, the North Star rivals continue to battle for the top spot in the conference.

Morgan McJimsey scored with 32 seconds left in regulation to lift Colony to a 3-2 win over the Kenai Kardinals in Wasilla on Saturday. The win pushed Colony to 6-2-1 in conference play and allowed the Knights to keep pace with Soldotna (6-2-0).

The Stars fell to Wasilla 4-3 in overtime.

Zack Zulkanycz, who scored twice in the game, gave the Kardinals the first lead with a second-period goal.

Anthony Kolendo was able to answer for the Knights, scoring twice within a three-minute span in the third period. Kolendo tied the game at the 6:50 mark, and scored again with 4:04 left in the third period.

Kolendo’s second goal gave the Knights the 2-1 lead, but Zulkanycz scored his second goal 24 seconds later to tie the score at 2.

Forrest Savel stopped 34 Kenai shots in the win. Keegan Remsen made 36 saves for Kenai.

With a win over rival Wasilla (4-4-1) on Friday, Colony can lock up one of the top two seeds in the upcoming NSC tournament.

A Colony loss to Wasilla on Friday would leave the Knights in a tie with Palmer (6-3-1).

Each of the top two seeds earn a first-round bye in the tourney, which starts Feb. 2 in Soldotna.

The Stars (6-2-0) face Kenai (3-4-1) and Homer (0-8-0) this weekend. Two Soldotna wins would give the Stars the first seed in the tourney.

Colony 3, Kenai 2

Saturday, Wasilla

First period — no scoring.

Second period — 1. Kenai- Zulkanycz (unassisted) 8:18.

Third period — 2. Colony- Kolendo (Svoboda, Hartley) 6:50; 3. Colony- Kolendo (Boyer) 4:04; 4. Kenai- Zulkanycz (unassisted) 3:40; 5. Colony- McJimsey (Kempinski) 0:32.

Shots on goal: Kenai 36, Colony 39; Saves: Kenai- Remsen 36, Colony- Savel 34.