PORT ANGELES — In a game that Port Angeles needed to win to keep its postseason hopes alive, midfielder Kylee Jeffers made sure that the result was positive for the Roughriders.
Jeffers notched her first career hat trick and dished out two assists as Port Angeles defeated visiting Port Townsend 8-1 at Civic Field in Olympic League girls soccer action.
The win keeps the Riders (4-7) within a game of Bremerton (5-6) for the fifth at final spot in the league tournament.
Jeffers scored early and late on Saturday, earning her first goal, a header, off an Emma Moseley corner kick.
“I’ve been working since my freshman year on trying to get a header goal; finally I got one in my senior year,” Jeffers, a senior captain said.
After a Port Townsend own goal, Jeffers assisted twice to sophomore forward Maddie Boe on crosses that Boe deflected in with her body.
The Redskins broke though in the 37th minute when midfielder Anne Meek played a perfectly timed through ball to Jewel Johnson, who finished it just inside the Port Angeles goal post.
“A combination of some experimental tactics, homecoming day and no school the day before led to a rather humbling defeat in PA,” Port Townsend coach Colin Foden said.
“Within 23 minutes of the start, [we] were four down and never recovered.
“There was even a debatable penalty awarded against Port Townsend in the last few minutes of the game.
“The bright spot for [us] was a wonderful finish by Jewel Johnson after a powerful dribble upfield by Anne Meek.”
The second half belonged to the Riders, with consistent midfield play leading to four more goals.
“Our defense has been solid this year, especially over the last eight games when we have only allowed 0.9 goals a game,” Port Angeles coach Scott Moseley said.
“But we worked hard on scoring at Friday’s practice and it paid off.”
Madison St. George scored on an unassisted corner kick, followed by Brittany McBride scoring from close range off Emma Moseley’s second assist.
Jeffers finished out the game by converting on a Boe assist and then, after being fouled in the penalty box, her first penalty kick.
“The team played an all-around good game,” Jeffers said.
“Everybody got lots of opportunities, and our hard work is starting to show and pay off.”
The Riders outshot Port Townsend (0-12) by a 29-3 clip. The Redskins next play at North Mason (3-8) on Tuesday.
Port Angeles, meanwhile, travel face second-place Kingston (10-2), also on Tuesday.
Of the Riders’ remaining five games, two come against teams trailing them in the Olympic League standings: at North Mason on Monday, Oct. 21, and at Sequim (2-9).
The other three contests are against the league’s top three teams: at Kingston on Tuesday, and home games against Klahowya (8-3) on Thursday, and league-leading North Kitsap (12-0) on Thursday, Oct. 24.
Bremerton faces a similar load over its five games, playing North Mason and Sequim at home, and battling Klahowya, North Kitsap and Olympic (8-4) on the road.
Klahowya 3, Port Townsend 1
PORT TOWNSEND — The Redskins won the first set, but fell to the Eagles in Olympic League action 22-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-22.
Avery Selisch had six kills, three aces and 10 digs for Port Townsend. Amy Hemsley added five kills, 11 assists seven and digs, and Baili shaw contributed 12 digs.
Also for the Redskins: Megan Juran had nine kills, three aces and 10 digs; Trish Reeves had three kills, three digs and four blocks; Megan Lee contributed two aces and 16 digs; Addi Richert had two kills and five digs; and Rio golden finished with four kills, two aces and four digs.
Cross Country
Port Angeles at Hole in the Wall
ARLINGTON — Many Roughriders runners came away with improved 5K times after the 73-school Hole in the Wall Invitational at Lakewood High School.
The Port Angeles girls continue to improve as the season progresses, placing fourth out of 20 teams in the varsity No. 2 race with a score of 137.
The only schools to better the Riders were powerhouses, Bellarmine Prep (74), Sehome (87) and King’s 134.
Port Angeles’ top finisher was Elizabeth Stevenson, who placed fifth with a time of 20 minutes and 18 seconds.
Willow Suess took 15th with a time of 20:55.
Other Port Angeles girls varsity results: Annika Pederson, 26th, 21:10; Dove Lucas, 51st, 22:01; Taylor Jones, 55th, 22:07; Lily Morlan, 63rd, 22:27; Astrid Schick 98th, 23:24.
In the girls JV race, Maria Soule ran in 26:28 and Zaundria Patterson in 26:23.
Natalie McNary’s time of 28:20 was an impressive 2:38 off of her previous best time.
“Every race makes me a stronger person,” McNary said.
“I couldn’t achieve that goal without the help from another teammate that motivated me to keep going.
“I ended up helping that teammate make a PR also. We helped each other. That’s teamwork.”
In the boys No. 2 varsity race, Port Angeles finished 11th out of 24 teams.
Peter Butler paced the Rider boys with a 17:31 time, good enough for 12th place.
Other Port Angeles times: Simon Shindler, 17:46; Evan Herbert, 17:49; Tony Dalgardno, 19:59; Sam Waddell, 23:21; and Jacob Higbee, 26:08
In the freshman and sophomore boys race, the Riders team placed 19th out of 30 teams.
Port Angeles times: Tristan Butler, 18:23
Hunter Dempsey, 18:56; Cody Anderson, 19:43; Elijah Baccus, 19:44; Noah Johnson, 21:25; Forrest Clark, 22:01; and Isaac Newlin, 23:02.
