PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Angeles boys soccer team twice had leads against East Jefferson but the Rivals rallied twice to earn a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Roughriders.
It was the first loss of the year for the Riders, who came in to the match with a 2-0 record.
“I’m super pleased,” said East Jefferson coach Logan Stegner. “I’ve been with the program for six years and historically they’ve kind of stomped on us.”
Alan Morales had two goals and an assist for the Rivals. In the first two games of the year, Morales has five of the Rivals’ eight goals.
“It was a really physical game on a wet grass field. Port Angeles lost starter Roldan Lara to a shoulder injury midway though the first half,” said Port Angeles coach Chris Saari. East Jefferson also had to play with 10 players in the final 11 minutes plus stoppage because Grady White picked up two yellow cards.
“One of the big points of focus this year is our mentality from the start of the game to the end. That was one of our biggest flaws last year,” Stegner said.
The Riders got the scoring started in the sixth minute when Sawyer Davis played a long ball over the Rivals defenders near midfield. Matthew Miller go in behind the defense and carried the ball to the goal, finishing the play with a shot into an open net.
In the 12th minute, East Jefferson answered when Simon Barlow scored on a Morales corner kick, with Morales getting the assist.
The score remained knotted up 1-1 until the 62nd minute when Kanyon Anderson combined on a play with Miller to tally a score.
“With two players chasing him down and the goalie coming out, Kanyon slipped the ball thru the defender and the goalie’s legs and into the back of the net,” Saari said.
Just two minutes later, however, East Jefferson responded with a goal by Morales to make it 2-2. Two minutes after that, Morales scored again to give the Rivals a 3-2 lead which they managed to hold down a man the final few minutes.
“Port Angeles had some chances late but couldn’t make it happen on their third straight road trip,” Saari said.
Saari named Miller the offensive player of the match for Port Angeles, Davis the defensive player of the match and Anderson the transition player of the match.
The Riders (1-0, 2-1) look to heal from injuries and illness before traveling to North Mason on Tuesday.
East Jefferson (1-0, 2-0) looks to remain perfect with a game at 5 p.m. today at South Whidbey.
In other games over the weekend, Bremerton beat Sequim 3-1.
