SHORELINE — Another road trip and another sweep for the Peninsula Pirates — and the stage is now set for today’s Northwest Athletic Conference showdown between the top-ranked Peninsula College women and the defending NWAC champion and second-ranked Everett.
The Peninsula women’s soccer team gave up only its second goal in 11 games in a narrow 2-1 victory over third-place Shoreline on Wednesday, while the Pirate men avenged an earlier tie against the Dolphins with a 2-0 shutout.
Today’s home match will be the Peninsula women’s second highly anticipated showdown this season with Everett.
The Trojans are responsible for each of the Pirates’ last three losses, and all have been by 1-0 scores — once last month in NWAC North play and twice last year, including in the NWAC championship game in November.
This is the first time that this budding rivalry will be played on the Pirates’ home field.
The two teams kick off White Out Day at Wally Sigmar Field at noon. Peninsula students will receive a free white “Pirate Proud” T-shirt, and non-students will have the opportunity to purchase the shirt for $5, which includes tax.
The Peninsula and Everett men follow at 2 p.m. The Pirates handled the Trojans 4-0 in their previous meeting at Everett.
Women’s Match
Peninsula 2, Shoreline 1
Wednesday’s match at Shoreline was no walk in the park for the Pirates, as the two teams battled through a scoreless first half before a Dolphin miscue resulted in an own goal and a 1-0 Peninsula lead just six minutes into the second half.
Cierra Hamilton played a set piece into the box and a Shoreline defender challenged, but the ball flicked her head and went over the charging goalkeeper Amanda Aversano.
“It was a tough bounce for them, but we might have been able to get to the ball if they had not,” Pirates coach Kanyon Anderson said.
Shoreline rallied, though, and four minutes later, Rylee O’Dell scored the equalizer on a corner kick that bent into the goal.
It is only the second goal Peninsula has allowed this season.
The Pirates earned a penalty kick later in the half when Tori Hagen was fouled in the box.
But Peninsula couldn’t capitalize.
“The penalty kick was saved, and it looked like we might end up tying, which would have really put a dent in our chances to win the division,” Anderson said
“We made some tactical changes and pushed some players higher in the attack.”
Peninsula then scored in the 83rd minute when Paige Mahuka beat two defenders at the top of the penalty box and forced Aversano into a diving save to her right.
Olivia Moore, playing high in the midfield, was right there for the rebound and was able to slam the ball low through a crowd of defenders and the scrambling goalkeeper into the bottom left corner.
The Pirates played defensively for the remainder minutes and held on to secure a difficult three points on the road.
Peninsula has beaten the Dophins twice this season, both on the road.
“Shoreline is an organized, athletic and defensively minded team, and it seemed at times they were playing for a draw,” Anderson said.
“The field is small, which makes it difficult to create much in the attack.
“I am pleased with the effort, although the result, on paper, doesn’t seem very impressive.
“I told the team that good teams figure out how to win close games.
“And, I thought we responded well from giving up a goal. We have not had that experience often this year, so it is reasonable to think we might have panicked. Fortunately we did not.”
The Pirates, ranked No. 1 in the Alaska Airlines NWAC Coaches Poll, improved to 5-1-0 in conference play, one game behind 6-0-0 Everett (10-1-0 overall).
Peninsula has scored 40 goals, which ranks second in the conference, and allowed just two, which ties Everett for best in the NWAC.
Shoreline slips to 3-3-0 and 5-4-1.
Men’s Match
Peninsula 2, Shoreline 0
The men’s game seemed to mirror the women’s, with neither team finding the net early.
But Peninsula broke through with a goal in the 34th minute when Joe Sorensen received the ball on the right wing, beat his defender and was fouled from behind as he entered the box.
Sophomore captain Eddie Benito slotted home the penalty kick for a 1-0 advantage.
The Pirates threatened again in the final seconds of the half, but Shoreline goalkeeper Jerry Reyes managed to tip the ball over the crossbar on a nice chip shot from Henry Bernabe.
Peninsula came out firing in the early minutes of the second half, nearly scoring on a shot by Benito and then finding the insurance goal moments later when Johnny Martinez intercepted a goal kick, dribbled into the box and tried to cut the ball to teammate Keo Ponce.
A Shoreline defender attempted to clear the ball, but it found the Dolphins net for an own goal.
Pirates keeper Nick Johnson picked up his NWAC-leading fifth shutout by making three saves.
Peninsula, ranked No. 2 in the NWAC poll, improved to 5-0-1 in conference play and 7-1-2 overall.
Shoreline fell to 1-2-3 in conference and 1-2-6 overall.
Today’s men’s matchup doesn’t have the cachet of the women’s game.
Peninsula is in first place in the North, while Everett sits at the bottom of the division at 0-5-1 (0-7-1 overall).
