PORT ANGELES — Port Townsend’s boys soccer season ended abruptly with a 2-1 defeat to Cascade Christian in a loser-out West Central District playoff game at Wally Sigmar Field at Peninsula College on Saturday.
The Redhawks (5-8-2) had the advantage in possession and shots on goal against the Cougars, but defensive lapses early and late in the game conspired to end the team’s season.
Port Townsend looked tentative to start the game and were caught ball-watching in the sixth minute.
Cascade Christian goalie Tanner Premo’s goal kick bounced high off the artificial surface, allowing the Cougars’ tall striker Aaron Brander to settle the ball and come forward on a two-on-one break on goal.
With plenty of options, Brandner slotted it low and left past Redhawks’ goalie Sean Dwyer.
‘Problem’ strikes again
“It’s the long ball being played over,” Port Townsend coach Ahmad Baabahar said.
“We’ve had a problem all season with long balls being played over and not turning and running but watching the ball. And we got caught watching there.”
Conceding the early goal seemed to help the Redhawks’ focus.
Senior forward Connor Chisick kept moving forward up the left side to send in left-to-right crosses that pressured Premo and the Cougars back line.
Sam Meier, Patrick Charlton and Shae Weinblatt Dey all found themselves on the receiving end of Chisick’s crosses inside the goal box, but the Redhawks came away empty each time.
Meier couldn’t quite put his foot on a cross to the far post, Charlton’s hesitation on a bouncing ball cost him time and caused his shot to be deflected and Weinblatt blasted his chance high over the goal.
Chisick had Port Townsend’s best look at the goal in the first half, picking up a loose ball on the left edge of the goal box and firing just wide of the net.
“We didn’t complete,” Baabahar said.
“We should have been up about five goals at half. We just had a lot of chances but we blew our chances.”
The missed opportunities continued after halftime, with Charlton coming on to the ball in the middle of the goal box and blasting his first touch over the goal and off the top of the nearby “N” Building on the Peninsula campus.
Each coach campaigned for calls from the officials, Cascade Christian’s Keith Patefield asking for hand ball calls on Port Townsend and Baabahar imploring the refs to call fouls on the Cougars.
A crucial call occurred in the 61st minute when Port Townsend’s Erik Pokorny was given his second yellow card and ejected from the game.
“I don’t think it was the type of foul you give that second yellow on when a guy already has a yellow,” Baabahar said.
“Not in a playoff game. To me, it’s kind of outrageous.”
Baabahar also didn’t like a no-call on a mid-air collision between Dwyer and Cascade Christian midfielder Nathan Suiter.
“That was at least a yellow for running into the goalkeeper,” Baabahar said.
“We received nothing from them [the officials].”
Premo made a top-notch save in the final minute for the Cougars.
Meier ran onto a Dwyer goal kick, sliding between and outrunning two Cougars’ defenders for a breakaway attempt on goal.
His left-footed shot to the low left post was sent away by a fingertip save from a lunging Premo.
Port Townsend had been building up its attack for that tying goal and wasn’t able to get back defensively before giving up a score on the counterattack.
John Yoh sent a shot past Dwyer from the outer edge of the goal box with five minutes to play for a 2-0 Cascade Christian lead.
“The most dangerous time [defensively] is right after you almost score,” Baabahar said.
“Their keeper made a tremendous save and we let down and they came down and caught us with a spectacular goal.”
To its credit, Port Townsend didn’t fold, as Beshir Little scored a stoppage time goal on a tough angle from the left side of the box to pull within 2-1.
The Redhawks had one last good look at the net, but sophomore Jack Kingsley sent his shot high over the middle of the goal moments after Little’s strike.
“We kind of gave this game away to them, but to play that long with 10 men is tough,” Baabahar said.
Baabahar praised the performance of his seniors, including Chisick and defensive back Colin Coker.
“Connor was productive all game long and Colin did such a good job leading the defense,” Baabahar said.
“We are a very young team. Our roster is full of sophomores, so I feel we will be back and be much improved in this situation next year.”
Cascade Christian 2,
Port Townsend 1
Cascade Christian 1 1 — 2
Port Townsend 0 1 — 1
Scoring Summary
First Half: 1, Cascade Christian, Brandner, 6th.
Second Half: 2, Cascade Christian, Yoh, 75th. 1, Port Townsend, Little, 80th.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
