PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend scored a goal inside of the first minute and never looked back in winning their first girls soccer contest of the season 2-0 against Coupeville at Memorial Field on Thursday night.
“It’s a good feeling,” head coach Rob Cantley said of the victory. “Before the game I told the girls how important it was going to be from the opening kickoff to bring intensity into contest, be aggressive defensively and in placing the ball behind their defense offensively.
“And that’s exactly what they did, which surprised me. They scored within 35 seconds.”
Coupeville started with the ball but Port Townsend quickly won control.
“Macy Smith was playing midfield and got the ball and sent it up to Kaylen Pray,” Cantley said. “Kaylen has really good speed and she used it to get behind the defense and score the goal.”
The Redhawks held the 1-0 advantage through much of the rest of the game before scoring late in the second half.
“There was a lot of time in between our goals and I felt we were keeping them at bay defensively for the most part, especially our goalkeeper — Sorina Johnston — who filled in for our usual starting goalie who is out with a concussion,” Cantley said.
“She did a really good job of cleaning up her area, coming off her line to gather the ball. And she is a co-captain and was vocal all game.”
The second Port Townsend score came off of a corner kick from the right side.
“Izzy McCracken got it and first timed it again to the far post and Savanna Hoffman went up in the air and headed it in goal,” Cantley said. “That was really good to see because she had been a little shy about going up for headers and taking on contact, so she was brave to go get it and score.”
Cantley also had praise for co-captain Nylah Garling, who played in defense rather than her normal spot in midfield.
“Normally I have in her midfield, but she’s an experienced player and she kept it together back there defensively. She did a good job stopping attacks and launching counterattacks.”
And Cantley said the team was “ecstatic” after the win.
It feels good after having kind of suffered through a lot of our games to this point,” Cantley said. “This was one we were looking forward to, a game against an opponent that is on our level and where we could play some offense.”
The Redhawks (0-3-0, 1-8-0) have gaps in their schedule after Chimacum canceled its season, so Port Townsend if off until it hosts Sequim on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Port Angeles 7, Kingston 0
PORT ANGELES — Hannah Reetz recorded a hat trick to push her season goal tally to eight as the Roughriders beat the Buccaneers at Civic Field on Thursday night.
Port Angeles scored early and often which was all part of the plan, according to head coach Scott Moseley.
“Kingston has had a tough season and is at the bottom of the league,” Moseley said. “Our goal was to jump on them early.”
The Riders did just that, scoring in the second minute on a cross by Millie Long to Bailee Larson.
That goal set the tone for Port Angeles as they ended the half with a 6-0 lead after a pair of goals by Reetz, plus scores by Jada Cargo, Long and Catie Brown.
Long’s score was her 21st of the season. She had three assists in Thursday’s win for seven on the year.
Reetz added her third goal of the game in the second half.
Teagan Clark added an assist for the Riders.
Madi Roening and Saylah Commerton split goalkeeper duties to earn the team’s sixth shutout.
Olympic League-leading Port Angeles (7-1-0, 10-1-0) travels to Klahowya on Tuesday to face the Eagles in a non-league game. Klahowya placed third in Class 1A last season.
