PORT ANGELES — Sequim’s game plan worked to perfection early as the Wolves stayed alive in the postseason with a 2-0 win over Clover Park on Tuesday in a Class 2A District 2/3 girls soccer tournament victory at Wally Sigmar Field.
The No. 9-seeded Wolves (9-6-0) advanced to face No. 8 seed Lindbergh (10-6-0), the second-place team from the KingCo 2A Conference late Wednesday. Lindbergh lost 5-0 to top-seeded Fife on Tuesday.
“We were real happy with the overall result. The win was what we wanted and our goal for the game was to get off the front foot early and get a score and that’s what we were able to do,” coach Ken Garling said.
“In the first 10 minutes, we put high pressure on them and forced them into some mistakes. We got a good press in their defensive third and our outside left back Alexandra Salas got the ball out wide and drove in and hit a beautiful high, arching shot from about 25 yards out into the net in the fifth minute.”
Garling said his team focused on exploiting a defensive tendency the Warriors showed on film in previous games.
“Clover Park likes to sit back deep and defend,” Garling said. “That opened up space for us for shots from outside, and we recognized that and took advantage.”
Sequim defender Kaia Lestage (17) looks to control the ball with Clover Park’s Selena Corona Hernandez nearby, in the Wolves’ 2-0 West Central District tourney-opening win Tuesday in Port Angeles. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Up 1-0 at halftime, Sequim weathered the Warriors’ best chances right out of the break.
“Credit to Clover Park, they came out more aggressive and pressured us up the field more,” Garling said. “We were a little disjointed due to the high pressure in the first 15 minutes, but we figured out what they were doing and settled down.
“Taryn [Johnson] had a couple of good looks from distance that were close, but she doesn’t give up. She persevered and she streaked up the side, beat the keeper from right-to-left with a low, hard-driven shot to the corner in the 60th minute.”
Jenny Gomez assisted on the second score.
Garling said his team managed the game out from that point, subbing some starters with a second game in as many days ahead, and earning the clean sheet in goal.
He had praise for defender Kaia Lestage and midfielder Gomez for their two-way play.
“Kaia is always a steady, steady presence, a great leader and communicator and she killed so many attacks down the middle of the field,” Garling said. “And Jenny Gomez is an absolute engine for us in that midfield. She does everything we ask and then some.”
Sequim entered the Lindbergh game with confidence, Garling said.
“I definitely like our chances. I feel we are two evenly matched teams,” Garling said of Lindbergh.
White River 1, Port Angeles 0
BUCKLEY — The Port Angeles Roughriders girls soccer team lost 1-0 on the road to White River on Tuesday, but as a No. 4 seed, the Riders are in the double-elimination bracket and are still alive in the district tournament.
Port Angeles played Wednesday night against Bremerton after press deadline at Wally Sigmar Field at Peninsula College. If the Riders win that game, they will play again today against either Sequim or Lindbergh. That game is scheduled to be played at North Mason High School, but there is a possibility it could be moved to Peninsula College if it’s Sequim versus Port Angeles.
