PORT ANGELES — Struggling with some late-season injuries and illnesses that have kept starters out or moved them out of position, Port Angeles couldn’t produce enough offensively to take down Olympic League-leading Bainbridge (13-0-0, 13-2-0) in a 2-0 loss on Tuesday at Wally Sigmar Field.
“It wasn’t our best or our worst performance,” coach Daniel Horton said. “We are starting to get healthy again, but we are not quite there yet. It was 0-0 at half, so we were able to settle in defensively but keep them from scoring. But we weren’t able to push back offensively. We still have some girls out of position and are missing others.”
Bainbridge took advantage of a couple of Roughriders’ defensive lapses after halftime.
“Good teams take advantage when you mess up,” Horton said. “In the first half, we did a good job of finding spots and settling in, but you let down one play or one possession and they are able to take advantage.”
The Spartans notched goals in the 46th and 63rd minutes.
“Bainbridge had a free kick taken at midfield on the [Peninsula College] logo. We were caught not getting in position quick enough. They played it into the middle and Bainbridge always has speed, and they zipped on to it and were able to take a nice touch and able to chip it over goalkeeper Saylah [Commerton’s] head,” Horton said.
“In the 63rd minute, they dribbled into our left side, nobody slid over to help defend and we got caught ball watching, and they knocked a good shot over Saylah’s fingers and into the far corner.”
Horton said Commerton has played outstanding in goal all season but has really raised her play to keep Port Angeles in games against North Kitsap and now Bainbridge.
“If we don’t have her, these games are not as tight as they would be,” Horton said. “She is everywhere and she’s proven why she’s one of the best players in the league.”
Port Angeles (8-4-0) hosts Kingston tonight in a senior night match and will wrap the regular season at Bremerton on Thursday.
The Riders are the No. 2 seed out of the Olympic League and will be re-seeded based on RPI for the 16-team West Central/Sea-King District tournament which begins Tuesday.
Port Angeles’ Teanna Clark, left, and Paige Mason, right, close in on Bainbridge’s Grace Rich on Tuesday’s match in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles’ Isabelle Felton, center, tries to slip past Bainbridge’s Ellie Murray, left, as teammate Kennedy Rognlien looks on at right on Tuesday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles’ Anna Petty, left, fights for control with Bainbridge’s Grace Rich on Tuesday at Peninsula College. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
