PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles scored early and got a hat trick from Matthew Miller, but it wasn’t enough to get past North Mason in a 5-3 loss.
Miller got the riders on the board right away in the second minute with the assist to Caleb Lagrange. Lagrange got in behind the Bulldogs’ defense and played a ball from the right side of the penalty box across the middle and Miller was able to one-touch it in to the far post to give the Riders a quick lead.
North Mason pressured the Riders’ defense for a long spell of play, breaking through with three goals in the last eight minutes of the first half.
Coach Chris Saari said Port Angeles created several good chances in that first half, but were not able to finish on opportunties.
“Lagrange got in behind the Bulldog defense several times, but failed to get the ball past [North Mason] goalie Evan Carlson,” Saari said. “Miller redirected a corner kick on frame at the near post that clanged off the crossbar late in the first half. Lagrange in behind the Bulldog defense [again] and put a rolling shot to the far post that a Bulldog defender saved off the goal line.”
PA rallied after halftime and capitalized on a bobbled ball by the North Mason goalkeeper to make it 3-2 in the 46th min. Miller stole the ball away from the keeper and got a tap-in goal.
However, the Bulldogs came right back just a minute leader, taking back the momentum on a Riders’ defensive miscue to score, making it 4-2.
Port Angeles kept fight and Miller got his third goal in the 60th minute on a Kanyon Anderson assist.
The Bulldogs had an answer again in the 77th minute to put the game out of reach for the Riders.
Saari named Miller the offensive player of the match and Jackson Wyall his defensive player of the match. He named Lagrange and Anderson as his transition players of the match.
Port Angeles (1-9, 2-10) next plays Tuesday at Olympic (3-7, 4-8).
