PORT ANGELES — Having kept its cool against both the elements and an emotional Seattle Christian squad, the Port Townsend boys soccer team saved its celebration for the bus ride home.
The Redhawks topped the Warriors 2-0 in a Class 1A West Central District loser-out playoff played in stiff westerly winds at Wally Sigmar Field at Peninsula College on Saturday.
“Difficult circumstances for both teams because of the wind, but the seniors just really pulled it out for us,” Port Townsend coach Ahmad Baabahar said.
“I always think we learn more from our losses, but this was a good win.”
The Redhawks chose to play with the wind in the first half, and Port Townsend wasted no time in putting together offensive attacks.
Sam Meier narrowly missed out on two shots in the first four minutes, and later appeared to be taken down with the ball in the goal box in the 12th minute, but no penalty was awarded.
Beshir Little put the Redhawks in the lead in the 23rd minute with a stellar run-and-shoot combination while shaking off the hold of a Seattle Christian defender.
It was the second goal in as many district playoff games at Sigmar Field for Little. He scored a late goal in Port Townsend’s 2-1 defeat against Cascade Christian last year.
“Yeah, I like playing up here,” Little said with a grin.
The scoring play started on a right to left pass assist from Shae Weinblatt-Dey.
“I was standing in the middle and he hit me with the ball,” Little said.
“I turned to the outside, and the defenders, one was way too far back, so I kept coming around and then turned and got by him and got a good foot on the ball.”
Despite the obvious jersey grab, Little said he had no intention to dive and draw a foul.
“I felt the tug on my jersey, but I wanted to score way more than I wanted to earn a foul,” Little said.
“I hate floppers.”
The teams swapped directions after halftime, but despite playing into the breeze, Port Townsend still held the upper hand offensively.
Patrick Charlton missed out on an early header opportunity and a shot by Little went wide of the mark on a shot in the 53rd minute.
Seattle Christian did provide some nervous moments for the Redhawks’ defense, particularly on scrambles for the ball inside the goal box.
“We had some scary moments, but I thought we played pretty solid defensively,” Little said.
The near-misses seemed to impact the Warriors mentally.
Seattle Christian picked up a total of four yellow cards in the game.
“They got frustrated, and it’s a playoff game, The emotions are always going to be heightened,” Baahabar said.
“And I don’t think they meant to be as aggressive as they were, but I think they could feel the season slipping away.”
Those feelings only intensified when Charlton unleashed a ferocious strike off his left foot that rattled off the left post and trickled into the goal in the 69th minute for a Port Townsend 2-0 lead.
“I was running into the space to cleanup anything, and the ball went straight to my left foot and I just fired it,” Charlton said.
“It banged the left post and I wasn’t sure it was in, but it made it over and I started celebrating. It felt amazing.”
Baahabar enjoyed the quality of both goals.
“Patrick had a great goal, off his left foot,” he said.
“And Beshir, it was probably going to be a penalty, but we teach them to finish out the play and he did a great job to score.”
Port Townsend goalkeeper Gerry Coker came off his line several times during the game to cover up balls booted near the goal.
He made a point-blank save on a Seattle Christian breakaway in the 71st minute.
Coker also deflected a strong shot by the Warriors goalkeeper Joel Fisher, who was playing up in a desperation bid for a goal, to preserve the shutout.
“To have both the sun and the wind in your face is really difficult,” Baahabar said.
“I don’t think our goalie saw the ball on those saves in the second half.
“He really stepped up.”
Port Townsend (8-6-1) advances to double-elimination district play against Charles Wright (10-3) at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
