PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College women’s soccer team has been dominating teams all year in shots, possession and defense.
But if there is one crack in the armor for the Pirates this season, it’s been their ability to turn those shots and possession into goals. They have tied two games 0-0 and have won three matches 1-0.
On Saturday, the women exorcised those demons a bit, with a seven-goal eruption over Shoreline to win 7-0.
It was also the women’s seventh straight shutout. The Pirates have now gone a staggering 565 straight minutes without allowing a goal, not counting stoppage time and not counting a 1-0 forfeit over Everett, which suspended its season. The last time the No. 1-ranked Pirates allowed a goal was midway through the second half against Edmonds on Sept. 22.
The undefeated women have allowed just two goals all season and have outscored their opponents 34-2.
Coach Kanyon Anderson said he doesn’t focus on the team’s impressive defensive statistics, but the coaches have been stressing finishing off scoring chances, so it was good to see the women score seven goals.
“My experience is to not get caught up in non-essential external things, because when you give up a goal, the team gets down,” Anderson said. “At the end of the day, the point is to have one more goal than the opponent. It’s not about style points.
“We have been harping on how we need to finish our scoring chances. This is a hard-working, fast, athletic team, and yesterday was a great day. We’ve worked hard on being efficient,” Anderson said.
The Pirates had a whopping 41 shots against the Dolphins with 23 shots on goal, forcing Shoreline goalkeeper Xochitl Sustaita to make 16 saves.
Addy Becker and Mya Raunig each had a pair of goals for the Pirates. Millie Long had a goal and an assist, while Kascia Muscutt and Tommylia Dunbar all had goals. Cece Jenkins, Grace Johnson and Chiaki Takase all had assists.
Alycia Flora stopped four shots on goal in the keeper position to earn the shutout and the win. Anderson said defender Alissa Konarek helped save the shutout when she swooped in and kicked a ball out at the line that actually got behind Flora.
There was no men’s game Saturday.
The women (11-0-1 North Region, 12-0-2 overall) next host second-place Skagit Valley (7-1-3, 8-2-3) at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Wally Sigmar Field. The men will play at 4 p.m.
