BELFAIR — Playing “the best game they’ve played all year,” according to coach Dave Breckenridge, the Sequim boys soccer team blanked North Mason 3-0 in an Olympic League contest.
Breckenridge said the score could have easily been 7-0. It was the second straight win and the second straight shutout for the Wolves as they look to climb up the Olympic League standings after four straight losses.
“Their keeper was tested a lot,” Breckenridge said.
“We dominated the entire game. It was a very, very fun game to watch,” he said.
“We passed well … our vision and execution came into play,” Breckenridge said. He said North Mason played a physical game, leading to a number of injuries to Sequim players, including a concussion to keeper Nolan Valenzuela.
The Wolves got their first goal when Preston Kurtze was taken down in the penalty area in the first 10 minutes of the match for a penalty kick, which Mekhi Ashby converted for a goal.
The Wolves got their second goal on a breakaway by Josh Alcaraz and finished scoring after a series of excellent passes led to a goal from Finn Braaten, whom Breckenridge called the MVP of the game. Ashby had the final pass of that sequence for an assist.
Breckenridge said the Wolves’ players continue to play for teammate Adrian Mendez, who is out battling a serious illness.
Sequim (3-4-0, 3-4-0) hopes to keep its momentum going Tuesday with a big game against league and Olympic Peninsula rival Port Angeles (1-7, 2-8) at 7:15 p.m. at Wally Sigmar Field at Peninsula College. Sequim beat Port Angeles 4-2 early in the season.
Kingston 3, Port Angeles 1
KINGSTON — The Port Angeles boys soccer team came back with a goal in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to catch up with Kingston in a 3-1 loss.
The Roughriders went into the halftime down 3-0.
“The Buccaneers started out the game with a lot of energy and had Port Angeles on the defensive early,” said coach Chris Saari. “[Their] good first touch, quick passing and movement off the ball had the ball in the Riders half for the majority of the first half.
“Port Angeles dodged a bullet early when the Bucs put a header of the crossbar on a corner kick, but Kingston scored in the 13th minute,” Saari said. “{Port Angeles] goalkeeper Leif Moody came out to the top of the box to challenge for a ball, but the Kingston player beat him to it and put the ball in over his head as the two players collided.”
The Bucs added to the score again in the 18th minute on a corner kick that was mishandled by the Riders’ keeper. The Bucs scored again in the 24th minute on another corner kick that was headed in at the far post.
“Port Angeles created a few good chances in the first half but failed to capitalize on the opportunities. Both PA forwards — Matthew Miller and A.J. Martinez — got in behind the defense on several occasions, but couldn’t finish,” Saari said.
Port Angeles brought in Jordan Saluskin in the second half to play keeper and the Riders managed to keep Kingston from adding to the score in the second half.
The Riders shifted the momentum in the second half and Matthew Miller scored in the 50th minute off a corner kick deflection.
“For the second game in a row Port Angeles had a slow start in the first half and then picked their game up in the second half. Despite improved play in the second half the Riders were unable to dig themselves out of the hole they had created in the first half,” Saari said.
Saari named Grant Butterworth the defensive player of the match and Jacob Weaver and Kanyon Anderson his transition plays of the match.
Port Angeles (1-7, 2-8) will take on Sequim (3-4, 3-4) for an Olympic League game at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.
