PORT ANGELES — Down a goal after playing a defensive-minded first half, Port Angeles decided to try and chase down some goals against Olympic League power Bainbridge, a strategy that ultimately provided more opportunities for both teams in a 4-0 Spartans girls soccer win at Wally Sigmar Field.
“They are skilled and fast,” Riders coach Dan Horton said. “The biggest thing we talked about after the game is their ability to turn other teams’ mistakes into quick goals. We match up well with them, we have size advantages, we have skilled players, but their experience turns mistakes into goals. And they made some mistakes but we didn’t take advantage of them.”
Port Angeles’ Stella Fradkin, right, works to outrun Bainbridge’s Isabella Saint Clair, left, and Isla Buffkin on Tuesday night in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Horton said the team chose to play directly in the second half and try to win the game with offense as opposed to continuing to sit back defensively.
“They didn’t feel like we were playing loose or playing our best soccer,” Horton said. “So we could stay in the same formation and we could hang on or switch it up, apply some pressure and maybe we get a couple of goals. The danger there is a bigger chance of giving up goals in transition.
“Start of the second half we looked like a different team,” Horton said. “We had the ball at our feet on their end and we missed out on a couple of goals by inches. Teanna Clark had a free kick and she sent in an amazing ball into the box and the goalkeeper barely got a finger on it. And they cleared a corner kick right off the goal line a minute later.”
Bainbridge did get those transition goals, scoring in the 46th and 53rd minutes and getting an own goal in the 56th.
“No need to panic, we got a lot of good film and now have a number of things to work on before we play them the second time,” Horton said.
The Riders (1-1-0, 3-1-0) visit Olympic (0-2, 1-3) tonight.
Sequim 6, North Mason 0
SEQUIM — Five Wolves found the back of the net and goalkeeper Lillian Anderson recorded the shutout as Sequim earned its first win of the season.
“There’s been a lot of growth since our first game,” assistant coach Vianey Cardenas said. “The girls have been working hard in training to improve on the things we were missing in our pre-season match, and now it’s starting to really show on the field.
Sasha Yada opened the scoring with an assist from Kiley Winter, followed by Kaiya Robinson finishing from an Olive Bridge assist.
Raimey Brewer added two well-taken goals, Ruby Moxley-Horgan scored with an assist from Brewer and Lily Sparks converted a penalty kick to round out the 6–0 win.
“The midfield core — Brewer, Bridge and Moxley-Horgan — anchored the team throughout the game, providing energy and control in key moments,” Cardenas said.
“Goalkeeper Lillian Anderson made several sharp saves to maintain the shutout and has continued to be a standout presence in net, particularly after a strong performance last week against Kingston, she was working hard and keeping us in that game, but we just came up a little short.
”Lillian will be a great player to watch this season. I am extremely proud of how the defensive line has been playing, anchored by senior Hailey Wagner,” Cardenas said. “Our defensive line is extremely diverse, they can all play anywhere on the back line and hold it down for us. This game truly was a team win, it took everyone, and if they continue to play as a team, then we will have a lot of success.”
The Wolves (1-1-0, 1-2-0) visit Bainbridge (2-0, 3-0) tonight.
Vashon 4, E. Jefferson 0
VASHON — An early bus ride, a long wait in hot weather and a game played on some broiling artificial turf wasn’t a good recipe for the Rivals on Tuesday.
“Getting on a bus at 10:45 a.m. in the morning [due a limited mid-day ferry schedule], sitting through the JV game and then playing a 5:15 p.m. varsity game with the heat, it was going to be tough,” East Jefferson coach Rob Cantley said.
“And we were missing some girls, so I asked them to give me a good 25-30 minutes in the first half before we were gassed out, and they did that.”
Temperatures peaked at 91 degrees on Vashon Island on Tuesday.
“They have turf, so it was hotter on the field, and frankly, we are not used to that type of weather,” Cantley said.
Due to Nisqually League rules this season, only the second game between teams counts toward playoff eligibility.
“We used this game as a bit of a scouting report, see how they play, who they have that is dangerous and since the second game is what counts, we focus on that one a month from now,” Cantley said.
“Goalkeeper Lila Morgan is continuing to do really well, she keeps learning and she made some plays to keep the scoreline down.
Fern French in midfield and defender Teri Wiley also were praised by Cantley.
East Jefferson (1-3-0) hosts Life Christian today at 5 p.m. at Memorial Field.
Port Angeles’ Teanna Clark, center, cuts off Bainbridge’s Vega Hendrickson, left, as teammate Becca Manson moves toward the ball on Tuesday at Wally Sigmar Field. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
