TUKWILA — The Peninsula College men joined the women’s team in the NWAACC soccer championship game by blanking Walla Walla 2-0 at Starfire Sports Complex.
The Pirate women also beat Walla Walla 2-0 earlier Saturday.
The top-ranked Peninsula men will play second-ranked Clark in the men’s title game.
The Pirates will be going for their second consecutive NWAACC championship and third in four years.
Most of the opening half of the semifinal was played near midfield as the conference’s No. 1 and No. 3 teams refused to give up ground to the opposition.
Surrounded by defenders near the top of the goal box, Peninsula freshman forward Ash Apollon managed to score on a fancy strike in the 22nd minute to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
The NWAACC’s top scorer, Alex Martinez, assisted Apollon’s goal.
It was the only goal Peninsula needed, but another goal a few minutes into stoppage time when Victor Sanchez scored what looked like the soccer equivalent of an empty net goal.
Sanchez received a pass from Erick Urzua near midfield and kicked the ball over Walla Walla goalkeeper Derek Carver, who had moved up the field and left the goal unattended.
Peninsula keeper Angel Guerra continued his stalwart ways in goal by recording two saves to notch his 11th shutout of the season.
“Anytime you play a college semifinal game, you are going to have a lot of emotion,” Peninsula coach Andrew Chapman said.
“I thought our guys handled it very well. They played good soccer and fought until the end.”
Clark beat Highline 2-1 when Bernardino Ayala-Jimenez scored in the 98th minute.
The Penguins and Pirates played in early October at Wally Sigmar Field in Port Angeles, with Peninsula earning a 2-0 win.
It was Clark’s (19-2-1) only loss to a NWAACC team this season.
The Pirates, meanwhile, remain unbeaten on the season with a 20-0-2 record.
