PORT ANGELES — After missing out on the NWAC Final Four last year, the Peninsula College men’s soccer team is returning to Tukwila after a dominating 3-0 win over Clark College on Saturday.
The men were in control with nine shots to four for Clark, which technically had zero shots on goal but did have one golden scoring opportunity in the 65th minute when a shot hit a crossbar.
Clark came in to the match red-hot, with a 14-2-0 overall record and an 8-0 win over Wenatchee Valley in the playoff opener. The Penguins had also won five straight games by shutout, outscoring their opponents 22-0. The North Region-champion Pirates simply shut them down in a physical match that saw five yellow cards.
Peninsula’s Nil Grau, right, takes the header over Clark’s Wilson Fresh as Grau’s teammate, Abdurahim Leigh, looks on at front during Saturday’s match in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
The Pirates are headed back to the NWAC Final Four after having to battle through an exceptionally tough North Region regular season. Peninsula had to win its final game to win the North Region and get a bye in the playoffs.
Coach Jake Hughes said this is a special team this year.
“What makes them special is their depth of character, their sense of humor, they’re unity,” he said. “We always have a cohesive group, but this group is particularly very united and supportive of each other.”
Hughes said that what the team learned from last year’s disappointing loss in the playoffs is “you can’t take anything for granted. We don’t take any of this for granted.”
Sophomore Fin Muotone, who impressed the crowd at Wally Sigmar Field with his powerful leg all game, was part of that team that had an early playoff exit last year.
“It’s a relief,” he said, to make it back to the Final Four. “We’ve been training hard for this. We proved that we should be in the Final Four.”
Muotone also said he and his teammates were “able to keep their emotions in check” as the game was physical and spirited with a few words and staredowns.
Peninsula got on board in the fourth minute as Nils Grau scored the first of his two goals, a powerful booming shot on a solo effort from just outside the penalty box.
The Pirates got their second goal in the 44th minute when Brian Guzman drew a foul in the penalty area, giving the Pirates a penalty kick. Matthew Enrique buried the penalty in the bottom right corner of the net to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead into the half.
Grau got his second goal in the 58th minute on a perfect header off a Guzman free kick.
Peninsula (12-4-1) now has a huge challenge, facing unbeaten Columbia Basin (15-0-1) in the NWAC semifinals at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Starfire Soccer Complex.
Peninsula’s Abdurahim Leigh, front, dribbles past Clark’s Isiah Bunda during Saturday’s NWAC quarterfinal match at Wally Sigmar Field. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula’s Manny Garcia, right, tries to get past the defense of Clark’s Jared Armenta-Reyes on Saturday at Peninsula College. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula’s Pip van der Ende, right, races along with Clark’s Garik Shevchuk in pursuit on Saturday at Wally Sigmar Field. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Nils Grau celebrates his second goal in the Pirates’ NWAC quarterfinals win over Clark. In on the play are Brian Guzman (17), who hit a free kick that Grau headed in, and Rei Sato (5). (NWAC video)
