SEQUIM — Sequim scored first and came close to equalizing late, but couldn’t match Bainbridge’s intensity coming off the bus and wasn’t able to catch back up in a 3-2 Olympic League boys soccer contest on Tuesday.
“We had a very slow start,” coach Dave Breckenridge said. “The intensity Bainbridge brought right out the gate was overwhelming for the first half.”
Sequim did get an early call in its favor in the first half to go up 1-0.
“Josh [Alcarez] got taken down in the box on an attack which resulted in a penalty kick,” Breckenridge said. “We ended up taking it twice due to the Bainbridge goalie leaving the line too early. That was lucky for us since he was able to deflect the shot wide. Josh settled down on the second attempt and made the play.”
The game was played without the full complement of referees, something the Spartans were able to use to their advantage by pushing the line and risking offsides calls.
“Bainbridge tied the score with an uncalled offside foul, they scored again due to a miscommunication with our back line and used their speed to beat us and score again before halftime,” Breckenridge said.
Sequim played its best soccer of the season after halftime, according to Breckenridge.
“The intensity and drive to win balls and not get bulldozed took over and we put them on the back foot,” Breckenridge said. “Mehki [Ashby] was a totally different player after halftime and dominated the midfield winning balls and sending passes that we unfortunately couldn’t capitalize on [as the] extremely talented back line of Bainbridge was hard to beat.
Ashby did find the net late to make it a one-goal game.
“Mehki found a way late in the half with a screamer from 25 yards out that the keeper had no chance to get,” Breckenridge said. “I was excited for the boys to finally experience what it takes to compete with these tougher teams.”
He added that he liked the team’s no-quit attitude and said goalkeeper Nolan Valenzuela was the team’s MVP.
Sequim (1-3-0) visits Bremerton today.
North Kitsap 9, Port Angeles 0
POULSBO — The unbeaten Vikings were too fast with the ball for the youthful Roughriders as quick ball movement broke down the Port Angeles defense and North Kitsap took a 6-0 halftime lead.
Riders coach Chris Saari said the Vikings kept possession against the Riders, picking them apart with constant movement without the ball and one-two touch precision passing.
Saari spotlighted some positive performances from Port Angeles (1-4-0, 2-5-0) against the 2023 Class 2A state championship runner-ups.
“PA got strong play from Sophomore defender Grant Butterworth again,” Saari said. “Grant was heading the ball well and had a high work rate on a busy night for the Rider defense.
“Caleb Lagrange played three different positions and had one of our only attacking runs that ended up with a shot over the top of the goal.
“Harper Willis had a nice run in the second half where he beat a couple Vikings down the left side,” Saari said.
“Kanyon Anderson wore the captain’s band for the first time for PA as a freshman. He was active in midfield and battled throughout the game to win balls.”
Port Angeles hosts Bainbridge on Friday at 7:15 p.m. at Peninsula College.
In another Tuesday game, East Jefferson beat Charles Wright 3-1.
