PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College soccer programs continued their NWAACC West Division dominance with a doubleheader shutout over Tacoma at Wally Sigmar Field.
The Peninsula women’s team notched its seventh consecutive shutout with a 7-0 win.
The Pirate men had to work a little harder against the Titans.
Both teams were scoreless until the 57th minute when Alex Martinez scored his NWAACC-leading 22nd goal off an assist by Christian Martinez.
Erick Urzua set up Christian Martinez for a goal 12 minutes later to give Peninsula a hard-fought 2-0 lead.
Peninsula goalkeeper Angel Guerra had nine saves to record his conference-best eighth shutout of the season.
“Tacoma played very well today,” Pirates coach Andrew Chapman said of Saturday’s game.
“They caused us a lot of trouble. We finally started to move the ball late in the game and got the result we needed.”
With the win, the Pirates are guaranteed a home playoff game in November.
Up next for Peninsula (9-0-1, 15-0-2) is a key divisional match against fourth-ranked Highline (7-2, 11-4-1) at Starfire Complex in Tukwila on Wednesday.
Women’s Soccer
Peninsula 7, Tacoma 0
PORT ANGELES — Kasie Lough earned her fourth shutout of the season and Larkyn Nelson and Bronte Fitzsimmons helped the Pirates take a 3-0 lead into halftime.
Nelson opened the scoring in the 13th minute off an assist by Fitzsimmons, who leads the NWAACC with 17 helpers.
Fitzsimmons scored a goal set up by Brenda Torres in the 21st minute, and a minute later Nelson scored her second goal of the game off a pass by Bri Afoa.
Nelson has scored three goals in the last two games.
In the second half, Fitzsimmons set up Brooke Yoshimura for her first college goal, and 20 minutes later Gaby Gonzalez scored her first college goal off a pass from Briana Estrellado to give the Pirates a 5-0 lead.
Torres then set up a goal by Alexandra Rojas-Ayala in the 84th minute, before scoring a goal of her own in the 89th minute. Torres’ goal was assisted by Gonzalez.
Torres finished with a goal and two assists in limited minutes, as Peninsula coach Kanyon Anderson played 23 players in the game.
“Everyone who stepped on the field played well,” Anderson said after Saturday’s game.
“We are continuing to improve, which is important for getting ready for playoffs.
“We were able to rest some players who typically play a lot of minutes and need some down time. It is a long season and we play every Wednesday and Saturday from early September to mid-November, so resting players can be difficult.”
The Pirates have earned shutouts in eight of their last nine games and are now tied with Edmonds for best in the NWAACC with 10 as a team.
Top-ranked Peninsula (12-0, 13-2) next faces a NWAACC West Division rival and sixth-ranked Highline (9-2-1, 12-2-2) on Wednesday at Starfire Complex in Tukwila.
