Hillyer has been playing soccer for 10 years, the last eight as a goalkeeper.
“I just have to stay focused all the time and make sure I am ready for the shots obviously and anticipate where they are going,” Hillyer said. “Just be ready I guess. I’ve been in the box a long time.”
Hillyer has also been used out of the box and took numerous free kicks for the Stars as his leg strength is considered a threat from 55 yards out.
“I am just aiming back post,” he said. “Just trying to get it on frame and then maybe it will curve to my brother (junior Lane Hillyer), he’s a striker so I’m trying to aim for him mostly.”
“I really liked my saves in the first half,” he said. “Where the crosses were coming in and I dive out and punch it away, but the reaction saves on a one-on-one I like too. Juneau is tough. I’ve played them the past two years in the state championship, beat them once, lost to them my freshman year. They are a good team. Kai’s a really good player.”
Soldotna won the state title over JDHS last season and country wise email marketing list JDHS won the state tile over Soldotna in 2023 and over now-defunct Thunder Mountain in 2022. TMHS won over Soldotna in 2021 with JDHS third.
On Thursday JDHS looked like the state title winners.
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Owen Rumsey, junior Kevin Flores-Lopez (6) and sophomore Sam Mazon defend a free kick by Soldotna junior Lane Hillyer (17) during the Crimson Bears’ 3-0 win over the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Owen Rumsey, junior Kevin Flores-Lopez (6) and sophomore Sam Mazon defend a free kick by Soldotna junior Lane Hillyer (17) during the Crimson Bears’ 3-0 win over the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Freshman keeper Walker earned his start through necessity and as good as the Crimson Bears back line played against the Soldotna attackers some of the Stars shots required heady play by the freshman goalkeeper.
The switch in goal for JDHS, moving starting sophomore keeper Eric Thompson out to defense was required as the Crimson Bears have lost junior all-state defenders Noah Ault and Jesper Bennetsen to possible season-ending injuries.