TACOMA — The Port Angeles girls soccer team yielded two goals in the final five minutes and was eliminated from the district playoffs in a 3-2 loss to Highline.
The Roughriders were unable to hang on to a late lead in Thursday’s match, played in windy, drizzly conditions at Franklin Pierce High School.
Port Angles took the lead in the ninth minute when right back Kate Haworth sent a high cross into the box that a Highline defender tried to head away, only to have it glance off her head for an own goal.
“That’s the third own goal teams have given us this year. I thought this was to be our night,” Riders coach Scott Moseley said.
The play was even throughout the game, before Highline equalized when a free kick that glanced off the crossbar and was headed in by the Pirates.
The second half saw a big momentum swing with the first 15 minutes belonging to Highline.
“We really struggled at the start of the half,” Moseley said.
“We couldn’t get a decent clearance at all and were back on our heels.”
Port Angeles made some positional switches and began to possess the ball more and was rewarded in the 64th minute by a goal.
Midfielder Emily Boyd took Madison St. George’s pass, skillfully settled the ball and turned, then found Maddie Boe, who beat a defender and calmly finished past the keeper.
It appeared that the Riders would be able to hold on, as they had the majority of the ball possession.
However, with 5 minutes left, the Pirates tied the game on a counterattack and three minutes later a low, left-footed shot put them in the lead.
Some late Riders attempts on goal failed to find the net and the game and season came to an end.
Port Angeles finished the season 9-9.
Moseley named Boe, Boyd and Cami Raber his offensive, transition and defensive players of the game, respectively.
Volleyball
Crosspoint 3, Crescent 2
BREMERTON — The Loggers fell in a closely-fought Tri-District play-in game to the Warriors, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 10-25, 11-15.
“We came out strong in the first game and had a 7-1 lead before Crosspoint came back,” Crescent coach Alex Baker said of Thursday’s match.
“We controlled the match in game two and won game three, but lost momentum and could not get traction in the fourth set.
“We inched closer in game five but were unable to overtake them.”
Senior Shannon Williams led the Loggers with 14 kills, five blocks and four aces after serving 12 of 15.
Another senior, Lauren Hartley, served 16 of 19 with four aces, six kills and a block, and classmate Jade Blazek was 15 of 16 on serve with two aces, 29 assists and three kills.
“The ladies played an outstanding match,” Baker said.
“They achieved the talent level I knew they were capable of and lost to a great team.”
The loss eliminates Crescent from postseason play and wraps the 16-year tenure for Loggers coach Alex Baker.
“I’m very proud of what the ladies accomplished this season.”
Football
Vashon 16, Chimacum 14
PORT TOWNSEND — Drew Yackulic moved over to quarterback and almost engineered a comeback that would have given the Cowboys their first win of the season at Memorial Field.
Yackulic, Chimacum’s starting tailback, was forced into a different role in the last game of his high school football career when quarterback James Porter was knocked out of the game with a head injury on a hit out of bounds right around the start of the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys trailed 16-8, but Yackulic closed the game, leading a nice drive that he finished off with a 9-yard run, his second touchdown of the game.
“For the tying score in the fourth quarter, Drew basically took us down the field making plays running around buying time and finding open receivers,” Chimacum coach Mike Dowling said of Thursday’s game.
The Cowboys’ two-point conversion attempt failed and they trailed 16-14 with 5:43 remaining in the game.
Thei defense forced Vashon to punt the ball back to Chimacum with 2:25 to play.
Yackulic took the Cowboys downfield, hooking up with Colton Shaw for a 41-yard catch and run inside the Pirates’ 30-yard line.
Yackulis followed a sack and an incomplete pass with a 9-yard pass play to set up fourth-and-11 with 1:11 to play.
Dowling elected to attempt a 47-yard field goal.
“Ari PapaUphoff, our kicker, had made kicks in practice like that all year long, and after a quick time out after the initial line up, we didn’t get the snap down and the kick never had a chance,” Dowling said.
Vashon took over and ran out the clock to win its second game in two weeks over Chimacum.
“We had great efforts from everyone, including our entire defensive unit and Coach Dotson and Chapman, who put that all together,” Dowling said.
“Colton Shaw, Brendon Nailor, Tyler Hamilton, Travis Pennington, Isaiah Avery, Eoin Hartnett and Drew Yackulic all played really well for us defensively.
“Offensively, James Porter, prior to the injury, Trevon Noel, who anchored our line and also played tailback for us, Lane Dotson, Chris Bainbridge and Logan Shaw played well for us.”
Chris Bainbridge and Colton Shaw tied for the team lead in tackles, while Yackulic accounted for all of Chimacum’s scoring, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
Vashon 16, Chimacum 14
Vashon 0 8 0 8— 16
Chimacum 0 0 8 6— 14
