PORT ANGELES — Juan Carrillo-Perez recorded a hat trick to lead the Peninsula College men’s soccer team past Everett 6-1 at Wally Sigmar Field on Wednesday.
The goals helped the Pirate men bounce back from a frustrating tie against Shoreline last Saturday.
Peninsula felt they needed this win over Everett after they tied with Shoreline 1-1, a game in which the Pirates outshot the Dolphins 17-7, but couldn’t capitalize.
“Particularly because of the nature of that tie … we didn’t finish. It was important today that we finished,” said coach Jake Hughes.
“I feel like we controlled the ball today. We wanted to be relentless,” Hughes said.
Carrillo-Perez got his first hat trick in his Peninsula career and now has five goals on the season.
“How can I say, it was both amazing and a relief,” said Carrillo-Perez. A relief because the Pirates were able to both dominate in the offensive end and score. Carrillo-Perez credited the team’s ability to maintain possession and “knowing when to attack and creating opportunities” for the win.
With the win, the men picked up their first victory in the North Division. Everett came in to the game undefeated in North Division play and with the leading goal-scorer in the NWAC in Aaron Byrne (six goals in seven games.). Byrne got the Trojans’ sole goal of the game against Peninsula.
Peninsula also moved into second place in the North Division, behind 2-0 Whatcom.
Carrillo-Perez started the scoring quickly for the Pirates, getting goals in the fourth and seventh minutes.
The Pirates had a goal taken away in the 39th minute on an offsides, but then picked up that lost goal a minute later when Joey Hollimon scored on a corner play with Adrian Benitez assisting.
Manuel Galiano, who earlier in the match missed a golden opportunity for a goal on a wide-open header, picked up a goal in the second half with an assist from Cesar Gervacio. Benitez scored a goal in the 64th minute and Carrillo-Perez collected his hat trick in the 78th minute on a solo effort.
With his assist, Benitez is leading the NWAC in assists with four.
The men (3-1-1, 1-0-1) next host Skagit Valley (1-1-0, 1-3-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday.
