PORT ANGELES — Badly needing a win to stay in the Class 2A West Central District playoff chase, the Port Angeles boys soccer team responded by completely dominating an overmatched North Mason team in a 6-0 win.
The Roughriders could have easily scored double-digit goals as they peppered a staggering 40 shots at the goal, but they had a number of shots at a wide-open goal stopped or just miss high or wide. Stuart Methner had a hat trick in the match, while Grayson Peet scored two goals.
Port Angeles needed the win to stay in good position for the postseason. The win puts the Riders at 6-5 in the Olympic League 2A Division (9-6 overall), tied for third with Sequim (whom the Riders have split two matches with) and one game ahead of Bremerton. Bremerton and Sequim play each other today.
Port Angeles has one league game left against undefeated league champion North Kitsap at 6:45 p.m. today, a game that will be tough to win, spelling the importance of the North Mason game.
“It puts us three points ahead of Bremerton and they’d have to beat Sequim [at Sequim tonight]. It puts us in a decent spot,” said coach Chris Saari.
The game was a bit frustrating for the Riders’ coaches because the team had so many wide-open opportunities, yet at the half, they were only up 2-0 when they could have scored a half-dozen goals by the half.
“Finishing is a problem. It’s something we talk about. It took a while, but we got the job done,” Saari said.
Port Angeles got off to a fast start, scoring in the 12th minute on a confusing play. A cross from Grayson Peet, who caused havoc all game down the right wing, went off the arm of a North Mason player, causing the referee to blow the whistle. But Methner kicked the ball in as the whistle was blown and the goal was allowed.
Just two minutes later, Peet assisted on another goal by Tom Lismonde.
Peet had several chances for a goal in the first half. One shot required a diving save by the Bulldog goalie while on another shot after that,Peet beat two defenders, but the goalie guessed right on the shot to the side of the net and stopped Peet again.
The Riders put it together quickly in the second half to put the close game out of reach. Methner quickly scored his second goal on a header after a nice cross from his brother Andrew Methner.
Stuart Methner then drew a penalty in the 61st minute, leading to a penalty kick goal by Ben Schneider. Stuart Methner then picked up his hat trick in the 68th minute unassisted. after a corner kick by Peet.
Kenny Soule scored in the 77th minute on a pass from Hollund Bailey to complete the scoring.
Riders’ goalie Lorenzo DeLaTorre notched his sixth shutout of the year.
Saari named Peet and Stuart Methner his offensive players of the game, Michael Scott his defensive player of the match and Lismonde, Soule and Schneider his transition players of the game.
Kingston 2, Sequim 0
SEQUIM — The Wolves played the second-place Buccaneers tough, but weren’t able to break through for a goal.
“It was a classic rough start for us,” said coach Dave Brasher. Kingston broke through with a goal in the 25th minute and outshot Sequim 8-3 in the first half.
“We settled down and played better in the second half,” Brasher said.
He said Liam Harris had two good chances and Robert Beeson a solid shot, but they weren’t able to get one in. As the Wolves had their entire team up in the offensive zone trying to score in the final minutes, the Bucs got a breakaway for a goal in the 79th minute.
The loss leaves the Wolves at 6-5, tied for third place with 6-5 Port Angeles. The Roughriders play first-place and undefeated North Kitsap Wednesday, while Sequim plays on the road against 5-6 Bremerton. If Sequim wins or goes to penalty kicks, the Wolves are in.
If they lose to Bremerton and the Roughriders lose, it will set up a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots in the Olympic League 2A Division.
