PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College men’s soccer team got a needed victory to secure a North Region championship Saturday, while the women completed another remarkable undefeated regular season with a win of their own.
The men beat a good Skagit Valley team 2-1. Whatcom played a weak Shoreline team Saturday and won 6-0, meaning the Pirates had to win their game to win a very tough and competitive North Region championship.
The defending NWAC champion women, meanwhile, beat Skagit Valley 2-0, completing a 10-0 league record and a 12-0-1 regular season.
The men took first with 39 points (12-2-3), while Whatcom finished second with 37 (11-2-4). Everett was third with 34 (10-3-4) and Skagit Valley finished fourth with 31 (9-4-4). Even fifth-place Edmonds had a winning record.
In the men’s game, the Pirates’ Yusaku Shimakura scored unassisted in the sixth minute. The score remained 1-0 until halftime.
In the second half, Ryosuke Tanaka for Skagit Valley scored in the 54th minute. Peninsula’s Dylan Pauw scored in the 69th minute with an assist to Inchun Hun to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead. Peninsula held on for the final 21-plus minutes to secure a hard-fought North title.
It was a physical game with 10 yellow cards, six for Peninsula and four for Skagit Valley, and a red card given to a Skagit Valley player.
Peninsula goalkeeper Alejandro Lopez made six saves to secure the win.
Women’s game
Peninsula’s Millie Long, right, leaps up to knee the ball as Skagit Valley’s Ellee Carpenter, front, and Brielle Molendyk, left, look during Saturday’s final season game at Wally Sigmar Field in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News) Peninsula’s Millie Long, right, leaps up to knee the ball as Skagit Valley’s Ellee Carpenter, front, and Brielle Molendyk, left, look during Saturday’s final season game at Wally Sigmar Field in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
The Peninsula College women had already locked up a North Region championship before Saturday’s match. The Pirates are putting together a defensive streak very similar to last year’s NWAC-championship team.
The Pirates won with their eighth-straight shutout. That’s 720 minutes without allowing a goal, not counting stoppage time.
In fact, if not for a goal allowed in the final minute of an 11-1 Peninsula blowout over Whatcom, the Pirates would have a 12-game scoreless streak. As it is, Peninsula has 11 shutouts this season and the Pirates have allowed just one goal since giving up three goals in a season-opening 3-3 tie with Spokane Community College way back on Aug. 23.
For the season, the women have outscored their opponents 56-4 and have outscored their league opponents 47-1.
The 2021 squad allowed only three goals all season, so in their past 33 games, the Pirates have given up just seven goals.
Against Skagit Valley, Sydney Soskis scored in the 55th minute, with an assist to Briana-Jean Tanaka. Maylin Rivera scored in the 86th minute with an assist to Katie McDermott.
The Pirates actually did allow a lot of shots. Skagit Valley got off 16 and goalkeepers Talia Marini, Hedvig Persson and Frida Markstrom combined for six saves to earn the team shutout.
The men and women will both be No. 1 seeds and will host second-round playoff games on Saturday at Wally Sigmar Field. Opponents were picked late Sunday.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Peninsula’s Chiaki Takase, left, fends of Skagit Valley’s Jordan Cagle on Saturday at Peninsula College in Port Angeles.
Peninsula’s Briana-Jean Tanaka, front, advances the ball as Skagit Valley’s Brianna Navarro and teammate Taya Bohenko come up from behind during Saturday’s match in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Peninsula’s Kenzie Banner, left, takes control as Skagit Valley’s Anwyn Thompson tries to break up the play on Satuday in Port Angeles. Peninsula’s Kenzie Banner, left, takes control as Skagit Valley’s Anwyn Thompson tries to break up the play on Satuday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula’s Kai Biegler, front, tangles with Skagit Valley’s Hugo Mariage during Saturday’s match at Wally Sigmar Field in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula’s Shu Kato, right, brings down a flying ball as Skagit’s Shingo Yamada keeps watch during Saturday’s match in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Peninsula’s Yusaku Shimakura takes a penalty kick that resulted in Saturday’s initial point against Skagit Valley on Saturday in Port Angeles.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Peninsula’s Fernando Tavares, left, avoids a tackle by Skagit Valley’s Ben Laycock on Saturday at Peninsula College.
