DISTRICT SOCCER: Port Angeles’ offense potent in loser-out win over Foster

PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles’ potent offensive attack proved far too much for Foster to handle as the Roughriders erased an early one-goal deficit in a 6-2 loser-out district playoff win over the Foster Bulldogs on Saturday at Wally Sigmar Field.

Stuart Methner notched a prep career-high four goals, two in each half, and Port Angeles also was sparked by the offensive play of Luis Galvan and Andrew St. George, the defense of Hollund Bailey and an athletic performance by goalkeeper Anton Kathol.

The Riders (12-3-0) advance to face Franklin Pierce (14-5-0) with a state berth on the line Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Franklin Pierce in Tacoma.

Early on, the Bulldogs had room to maneuver offensively against the Port Angeles defense and went up 1-0 in the third minute on a goal by Foster’s speedy striker John NawSut.

Initially, the Riders were playing more reactively than proactively, but that changed in the 12th minute when Luis Galvan pounced on a loose ball on the right side, dribbled and sent in a strong right-to-left strike to tie the game at 1-1.

“I saw the ball come loose and I just went for goal, really,” Galvan said. “My mind was set on scoring that goal.”

Port Angeles coach Chris Saari thought his team showed some determination in offsetting the slow start with an offensive onslaught.

“It wasn’t the start we wanted, but I liked that we didn’t get down mentally,” Saari said. “Once we got the equalizer I think the confidence started to soar. We started to pass the ball better and momentum shifted.”

Galvan’s goal was the first of a three-goal flurry.

Port Angeles followed up a minute later when the Foster goalkeeper couldn’t collect a ball that trickled through his legs and on to a waiting Methner for a 2-1 Port Angeles lead.

The scoring spree continued in the 15th minute when Methner sent a soft volley over the goalie for a 3-1 advantage .

“We picked up our intensity for sure,” Methner said of how his team adjusted after tying the score. “We started going to the ball more, stopped letting them dribble. Especially their striker up top [NawSut]. “We gave him a lot of time at the start.”

Galvan said he thought the Riders’ defense was committed defensively after the slow start.

“We started gaining the ball, being first to the ball, made complete passes and did the things we practice.”

NawSut continued to pose a scoring threat for Foster throughout the game, but Port Angeles did a better job of limiting his space led by center back Hollund Bailey.

“Hollund has been our backbone back there,” Saari said. “He’s first to the ball on headers and tracking down long balls. He gets a lot of the headers that come back and cleans things up for us.”

Port Angeles made it 4-1 when Methner was fouled at the top of the goal box and Andrew St. George went low with a free kick through the Bulldogs’ defense in the 35th minute.

The Riders kept it up after halftime, scoring quickly when Galvan made a strong run up the right side, turned inward at the goal line and sent a pass back through the box to Methner who tapped the ball in for his third goal and a 5-1 lead.

“I saw an open lane that I could possibly go through, so I tried it and I saw Stuart in the middle and sent it back to him,” Galvan said.

Saari was impressed by Galvan’s play.

“They didn’t really have an answer for his pace, his dribbling and his crosses,” Saari said. “He’s been producing a lot in the last four or five games, either assists or goals, and he was a big key to the offense. He’s a special player.”

Port Angeles gave back a score on a disputed own goal in the 58th minute. The call seemed to energize Kathol, who made a couple of one-handed leaping saves to keep the Bulldogs at bay.

“He’s taken charge of his box,” Saari said of Kathol. “There were a couple he didn’t hang on to that led to some trouble, but we want him to be aggressive and make those plays.”

The Riders final goal was another work of art.

Galvan pushed the ball up, waited with the ball at his feet and sent the ball back to St. George who sent a short cross from left-to-right that Methner headed in at the right post.