TACOMA — Port Angeles and Sequim both won their first-round District 3 2A playoff openers in dominating fashion.
The Port Angeles boys soccer team got a pair of goals and an assist from Ben Schneider in beating Renton 5-1 on Saturday, while Sequim got a hat trick from Ryan Tolberd in blanking Orting 6-0.
Both teams move on to play back-to-back Tuesday a pair of powerhouses from the South Puget Sound League, but they are also out of the loser-out phase of Districts and can absorb a loss if they have to.
Port Angeles 5, Renton 1
In addition to Schneider’s scoring, the Roughriders also got a goal and assist each from Stuart Methner and Kenny Soule.
The match was scoreless for the first 13 minutes when the Riders struck for two goals in two minutes to seize control. Soule got the first goal with an assist from Schneider, then two minutes later, Schneider scored with a shot from outside the penalty box to make it 2-0.
“Even though we had a slow start to the game, we were resilient and came together as a team after that,” said captain Soule.
The Riders took that 2-0 lead into the halftime break. Renton made the game tight with a goal in the 50th minute, but the Riders responded two minutes later to open up a two-goal lead again. Methner picked up this score on a header from a throw-in by Soule.
“It was a key turning point in the game for Port Angeles to not let the Indians back into the game,” said coach Chris Saari.
The Roughrider again struck quickly in the 58th minute to open up a three-goal lead. Schneider got a pass from Methner and scored his second goal, making it 4-1.
Port Angeles scored its final goal when Andrew St. George drew a penalty in the box in the 73rd minute and made the penalty kick.
Saari said Andrew Borde won a lot of tackles and headers defensively for the Riders. Also, Hollund Bailey made his first start since before spring break and Saari said he shored up the Riders’ back line.
The good news for the Riders (7-5-0, 11-5-1) is they’re on to the second round. The bad news is they have a very tall order in front of them. They now get to play Franklin Pierce (12-0-2, 15-0-2), the undefeated champion of the Mountain Division of the South Puget Sound League. That match will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma.
If the Riders lose, they play again at 7 p.m. Thursday at Franklin Pierce High School in the consolation bracket, still with a chance to qualify for state. If they win, they play in the district championship Saturday against either Sequim or Highline.
Sequim 6, Orting 0
“We dominated them,” said coach Dave Brasher. “They were lousy, we were good.”
In addition to Tolberd’s hat trick, Liam Harris had a goal and an assist, while Mike McAleer and Nick Janikic each scored a goal. Hayuk Minano and Addison Berg picked up assists.
Brasher was also pleased with a big Sequim crowd that traveled to Poulsbo for the game.
Sequim (9-3, 11-4-2) will now play the champion of the Sound Division of the South Puget Sound league, Highline (12-1-1, 13-2-1). Brasher said that despite Highline’s gaudy won-loss record, “I feel confident” in Sequim’s chances.
Brasher pointed out that all four of the Olympic 2A teams — Sequim, Port Angeles, North Kitsap and Kingston — have moved on to the second round.
“The Olympic League has stepped it up. We’re playing good soccer,” he said.
Sequim’s game will be played at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Franklin Pierce High School.
If Sequim and Port Angeles can both win Tuesday, they would play each other for the District 3 championship.
