EVERETT — Despite months of focusing on beating Everett, the Peninsula Pirates fell to the Trojans for the third consecutive time.
Everett scored an early goal and held off Peninsula from there to win 1-0 in Northwest Athletic Conference North Division action Wednesday.
The Peninsula men fared better at Kasch Park Field, defeating the Trojans 4-0.
It was the third time in the calendar year that the Everett women beat the Pirates by a score of 1-0, including in last year’s NWAC championship game.
In Wednesday’s highly anticipated rematch, the Trojans caught the Pirates on their heels in the third minute of the match when Cherise Shaver crossed the ball into the box on a set piece and Kristin Snyder headed it to the far post for the first goal scored against Peninsula in 2015.
Trojans on the defensive
“We started slow and Everett took advantage of a set piece,” Peninsula coach Kanyon Anderson said.
“The second half was better for us but by then Everett was organized and set in protecting their lead.”
The Trojans continued to outplay the Pirates in the first half, but Peninsula cranked things up in the final 30 minutes, getting off shot after shot in an effort to find the equalizer.
Myu Ban blasted a shot from 18 yards out on the left wing, but Trojans keeper Emily Sorensen got her hands to the ball and deflected it over the bar.
The Pirates had other opportunities to score in those final minutes, including two shots by Ban and Tasha Inong that both went just wide of the left post, a shot by Ellie Small that was saved by another spectacular play by Sorensen, and a header by Inong that missed high.
Peninsula falls to 1-1 in the North and 6-1 overall, while Everett improves to 2-0 in the North and 4-1-1 overall.
The two teams will square off two more times in league play, both matches at Wally Sigmar Field on Oct. 3 and Oct. 21.
Men’s Match
Peninsula 4, Everett 0
The Pirates went right to work, taking control of the match in the opening minutes.
Johnathan Martinez gave Peninsula the lead five minutes in when he carried the ball up the left side, beat a defender, cut back into the middle of the box and then laid down a shot inside the left post for an unassisted goal.
Keo Ponce then picked up two goals, his third and fourth of the season, scoring in the 20th minute off a corner kick from Santiago Sierra and then again in the 58th minute on an assist from Martinez.
David Joyce rounded out the scoring, going high to take a ball in the air with his feet off a cross from Joe Sorensen with just 13 minutes remaining.
Nick Johnson recorded the shutout for Peninsula (1-0-1, 3-1-2), his second in six starts this season.
Community Day
The Peninsula soccer teams will host Community Day on Saturday at Wally Sigmar Field for their matches against Skagit Valley.
The promotion offers free admission to youth soccer players and their families if the player wears his or her youth or high school soccer jersey. There also is a Pirates water bottle giveaway, while they last.
The Peninsula women face Skagit Valley (0-2, 2-2) at noon, while the men take on the Cardinals (0-1-1, 0-3-1) at 2 p.m.
