PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula men’s soccer team scored two goals within 90 seconds in the first half, including a goal on an absolutely spectacular head-over-heels shot by Manual Galiano, and that was enough for the Pirates to hold on for a hard-fought 2-0 win over the Tritons.
The win keeps Peninsula in second place, breathing down the necks of first-place Whatcom, which also won Wednesday to stay one point ahead of Peninsula. Third-place Everett lost Wednesday, giving the Pirates a little breathing room with a five-point lead over the Trojans.
The Tritons have given the Pirates a hard time this season as Peninsula beat them 1-0 two weeks ago.
Peninsula controlled the action early with the ball in Edmonds’ end almost the entire first half. The Pirates got six first-half shots to just one for the Tritons.
Hide Inoue had a nice header in the 22nd minute that forced a good save by Tritons’ goalie Colin Houser.
Finally, in the 33rd minute, the Pirates’ hard work paid off and Jose Serna made a perfect long pass to Galiano, who spun upside down to shock the Tritons’ goalie with a rocket shot.
Asked if that was his best goal ever, Galiano said, “I don’t think so. I can do better.”
“It doesn’t matter if I score, I’m happy for the team,” Galiano said. “I feel good when I help my teammates.”
And Galiano did that. Less than two minutes after his goal, Galiano beat a number of defenders on the left wing and made a crossing pass to Mason Haubrich, who booted the ball in to make it 2-0.
The Tritons managed just one shot in that first half. In the second half, Edmonds did a better job of putting pressure on the Pirates. The Pirates’ Yuki Lavoie and Luis Perez blocked shots in front of a wide-open net and in one sequence early in the half, the Tritons got three corner kicks in 40 seconds as coach Jake Hughes urged his defense: “again, white, again!”
The Tritons made six shots in the second half and Pirates keeper Evan Scholes made three big saves to preserve his shutout.
“We we’re defensively solid. We limited their chances. Luis Perez defended really well, he nullified several attacks,” Hughes said.
Peninsula (7-1-2, 8-3-2) next plays Shoreline (0-10, 2-11) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sigmar Field.
