PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles put the pressure on the entire match against Bremerton, but shots went high, wide and off the post.
But one shot, on a beautiful give-and-go between Stuart Methner and Andrew St. George, went in.
And that was good enough to give the Roughriders a 1-0 boys soccer win over the Knights Tuesday night at Civic Field.
The win keeps Port Angeles in second place in the Olympic League 2A Division a game behind first-place Sequim.
The Riders’ defense shined on the night, with Hollund Bailey in particular making some spectacular plays on the back line. His best play came early in the second half when a Bremerton striker timed his run perfectly and got completely behind the Riders’ defense on a long pass. It appeared certain that he would have a one-on-one opportunity with Port Angeles goalkeeper Anton Kathol, but Bailey showed some serious speed, running him down from way behind to break up the opportunity.
The Riders outshot the Knights 16-2.
“We had some chances early that we weren’t able to finish and we let them hang around,” said coach Chris Saari. “Bremerton is a tough team. They’ve played everyone in the league strong. We’re just finding a way to get points.”
The Riders’ chances included a good shot by Austin Fischer that required the Knights’ keeper to make a diving stop in about the eighth minute. Methner had a good shot to the upper left-hand corner of the net in the 24th minute that the goalkeeper was able to get to.
Finally, Methner and St. George broke through in the 32nd minute. Methner passed it to St. George, who made a pretty pass back to an open Methner right in front of the goalmouth. Methner’s shot didn’t have a lot of velocity, but it was able to trickle in for a goal.
Minutes later Methner single-handedly beat several Knight defenders on a run and got off a hard shot that looked like a goal, but it banged off the left post.
Bailey controlled the backline all game, winning balls and breaking up plays. He was a big part of Bremerton only getting off two official shots.
“He’s been our defensive player of the game eight times, but that was his best game of the year. He need him back there doing his normal stuff,” Saari said.
Saari also thought Kathol had a solid game. He had one very good save, sliding for the ball and wiping out a Bremerton forward in the penalty area. On a corner kick late, his 6-3 frame came in handy as he was able to simply reach up and grab the ball before any Bremerton players could head it. His goal kicks were also consistently long and deep, immediately getting the ball into the offensive end for the Riders.
Saari also thought St. George and Gabe Long did a good job. He named Stuart Methner his offensive player of the match, Bailey and Sean Rankin his defensive players of the match and St. George his transition player of the match.
Port Angeles (4-1, 5-1) will next play on the road Friday at Olympic (1-4, 1-7).
Sequim 2, North Mason 1
BELFAIR — A 57th minute goal off a free kick by Mike McAleer stood tall as the game winner as the Wolves kept a feisty batch of Bulldogs from pulling off the upset Tuesday night.
“Mike McAleer took a free kick from about 25 yards out and snuck it in the upper left corner,” Sequim coach Dave Brasher said.
The Wolves took an early lead over the Bulldogs, but North Mason quickly made a game of it.
“North Mason is a much improved team,” Brasher said. “They have a lot of speed and they play a quick counterattack game. They have some pretty quick, smallish midfielders that gave us a little difficulty.”
Ryan Tolberd scored the first goal assisted by a “great pass by Reid Parker” in the fifth minute.
“North Mason had a good run of play from about the 10th minute through the end of the half,” Brasher said. “They got some good chances, they were counterattacking and they got the equalizer off a corner kick in the 19th minute.”
Sequim was outshot 9-4 by North Mason in the first half, but Brasher said the team made some adjustments and were more effective offensively after the break.
“It was a good reversal,” Brasher said. “We had 10 shots to their three in the second half. It was one of those, the best defense is a good attack deals. We had two shots hit the post.”
Brasher said Parker earned man of the match honors for his assist and play in midfield.
Chris Morgan also played well at center back and Adrian Funston was strong in midfield.
Sequim (5-0-0, 5-0-2) will look to complete an unbeaten first half of Olympic League play when the Wolves host Kingston (2-3-0, 3-4-0) tonight.
Port Townsend 8, Chimacum 0
CHIMACUM — The Redhawks picked up its second-straight shutout with an 8-0 Olympic League 1A Division win over the Cowboys.
Port Townsend got two goals from Zach Dempsey and two from Nico Winegar. Also scoring were Ben Mattern, Emil Makkula and Aiden Falge with the eighth goal being an own goal by Chimacum.
Getting credit for the shutout in goal were Winegar and Mattern.
The Redhawks also shut out Bellevue Christian 4-0 on March 20, so they have gone more than 160 minutes without allowing a goal.
“We’re starting to find our rhythm. The guys are getting pretty comfortable with each other,” said coach Robert Cantley.
Port Townsend (1-1, 2-2) next plays at 2A Bremerton (2-4, 3-4) Friday.
Chimacum (0-2, 0-7) hosts Klahowya (2-0, 4-1-2) at 4:15 p.m. Friday.
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Compiled from team reports. Email scores to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or phone 360-417-3525.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles’ Andrew St. George, left, races Bremerton’s Sebastian Burdick downfield on Tuesday in Port Angeles. Following behind are teammate, Austin Fischer and Bremerton’s Luis Clemen.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles’ Stuart Methner, left, and Bremerton’s Ian Stuart battle for a header during the first half of Tuesday’s match at Port Angeles Civic Field.
