PORT ANGELES — Both of Peninsula College’s soccer teams have advanced to the NWAACC Final Four the second consecutive season.
The Peninsula women opened the quarterfinals doubleheader at Wally Sigmar Field with a 2-1 win over Whatcom.
In the men’s match, the Pirates defeated Edmonds, also by a 2-1 score.
The top-ranked Peninsula men will be making their sixth Final Four appearance when they face No. 3 Walla Walla at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila this Saturday.
The Pirates fell behind early, as Edmonds’ Austin Portch scored a goal 10 minutes into the men’s quarterfinal.
But Peninsula responded eight minutes later when NWAACC scoring leader Alex Martinez buried a penalty kick in the net to even the score at 1-1.
The match remained tied until Erick Urzua scored off an assist from Caio Maciel in the 70th minute.
The defending-champion Pirates held on from there.
Peninsula goalkeeper Angel Guerra saved seven shots.
“This wasn’t the prettiest of games we played this year, but we did enough to still get it done,” Pirates coach Andrew Chapman said after Saturday’s match.
“We played sloppy in the first half, giving up an early goal. But the guys answered well.”
Martinez’s goal was his 27th of the year and 48th as a Pirate, which moves him to within one of Miguel Gonzalez’s school career record of 49.
The win improves Peninsula to 19-0-2 on the season, while the Tritons fall to 9-8-3.
Walla Walla (14-1-3) advanced to the Final Four by beating Whatcom 2-1.
The NWAACC East Division champions went 10-0-3 in NWAACC play and were the only other team besides Peninsula (12-0-1) to finish the conference regular season without a loss.
The Pirates and Warriors each allowed only 12 goals this season, which was tied for the best mark in the NWAACC.
Peninsula led the conference with 80 goals, while Walla Walla was fifth-best in the NWAACC with 53.
The Pirates are in the Final Four for the fourth straight year, and are chasing the program’s third NWAACC title.
Last year, Peninsula and Walla Walla met in the championship game, with the Pirates winning a physical match 1-0.
Women’s Soccer
Peninsula 2, Whatcom 1
PORT ANGELES — The Pirates will make their third Final Four appearance in the women’s program’s fourth year of existence after edging the Orcas at Wally Sigmar Field on Saturday.
Peninsula will meet Walla Walla at Starfire Stadium this Saturday in a matchup that will feature the NWAACC’s top two scoring offenses and two of its top defenses.
In the quarterfinal against Whatcom (9-0-7), Peninsula (16-0-0) won the battle of the last two unbeaten teams in conference play.
“We won a tough one,” Pirates coach Kanyon Anderson said.
“Whatcom has not lost in conference all season, so we feel like we were able to do something that no one else has been able to do.
“A win like that gives us confidence.”
The Orcas took Peninsula down to the wire, with Alexandra Rojas-Ayala scoring in the 86th minute to break a 1-1 tie.
The goal was set up by NWAACC assist leader Bronte Fitzsimmons.
“The game-winning goal was a real beauty,” Anderson said.
“It was a slicing, dipping 30-yard shot. Often in a tough game like that, it takes a moment of individual greatness to lift one team over another. Alexandra gave us that.”
The defending-champion Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute on outside defender Miranda Sochacki’s second goal of the season.
“We talked about taking advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves. Miranda did that,” Anderson said.
Shelbi Vienna-Hallam earned the assist on Sochacki’s goal.
Whatcom’s Baily Butcher scored the equalizer in the 43rd minute.
“I think we were the stronger team,” Anderson said.
“We had two breakaways that we just missed, their keeper made a great diving save and we hit the post. They were limited to two good chances and they scored one of them.
“Whatcom is a strong team. They are well coached, athletic and disciplined.
“Our hope is that Whatcom has prepared us well for a tough final four.”
Walla Walla (19-1-1 overall) leads the NWAACC with 99 goals scored and only six allowed.
The Pirates (18-2) are second in goals with 85, and tied for second in goals allowed with 12.
The only blemishes to the Warriors’ record are a loss to Spokane and a tie with Whatcom.
Freshman Delaney Romero is in a three-way tie for the conference lead in goals scored with 23. Peninsula’s Bri Afoa is one goal behind with 22.
Walla Walla advanced to the Final Four with a 3-0 win over Everett.
