SILVERDALE — Port Angeles conceded the game’s lone goal late in a 1-0 season-opening nonleague girls soccer match with Class 1A power Klahowya.
“It was actually really good,” Roughriders head coach Daniel Horton said. “We ended up losing 1-0. That goal came with about three minutes left in the game. People might wonder how that can be a good game but I told the team that was the best start to a season since I’ve been there and some of them played the best games of their careers.”
Horton was happy to have a nonleague opener.
“We haven’t had a nonleague game since I’ve taken over. We’ve opened up with Bainbridge the last two years and it can be hard to know what you have when you start with one of the toughest games of the season.”
Horton said all 15 players who suited up saw major minutes.
“Our goal wasn’t to see what our starters can do, but to play them, and see some other lineups, different strikers. [At] one point we had four freshmen on the field all together. Play with a mix of lineups.”
Horton said Kennedy Rognlien played well in goal.
“She made a couple of saves early on that kept it 0-0,” Horton said.
“Cayleigh Alward, her first time at center back, and she played the best she ever has. She was winning the ball in the air and playing strong and physically in the back.”
The Riders will continue to work on their transition game.
“The biggest takeaway is offensively we need to do a better job of getting to the next level and keeping possession to get opponents out of their defense,” Horton said.
“Losing Paige [Mason] and Izzy [Felton] from the midfield and striker spots, everything went through them in transition. We knew losing those two spots would be tough to fill and could take some time. Defensively, all 11 positions looked amazing.”
The Riders (0-1-0) host North Mason (0-1-0) on Thursday.
Volleyball Sammamish 3, Port Angeles 1
SAMMAMISH — The Port Angeles volleyball team lost its opening match of the year, playing tough in the middle two sets but falling 3-1 (25-11, 24-26, 26-28, 25-13) to Sammamish.
The Roughriders (0-1) play again Thursday, hosting North Mason (1-0) in an Olympic League opener beginning at 6:30 p.m.
