PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College Pirates made a very loud noise in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College soccer world Saturday with a 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten and second-ranked Walla Walla.
The unranked Peninsula men outplayed the rested Warriors, who enjoyed a bye this week, outshooting them 11-7 and setting the pace for what was a very hard-fought match by both clubs.
The Pirates struck first when Steve Prevost got the ball to the foot of Bobby Catania, who blooped it past Warrior keeper Joey Pagan 35 minutes into the first half for a 1-0 Pirate lead at halftime.
A large sun-drenched crowd was buzzing about Peninsula’s lead at the half, but Walla Walla was quick to even the score when Juan Garcia turned one over his left shoulder and into the Pirates’ net just two minutes into the second half.
The Warriors kept the pressure on the Pirate defense throughout the second half, but keeper Jase Hall was active, thwarting four shots on goal, and his fellow defenders held the Warriors off the rest of the way.
The Pirate offensive, however, wasn’t quite finished.
Jabril Gude nearly scored on a header that was saved by a Walla Walla defender, but his teammates went right back to him as Jason Simonis got him the ball — and this time he booted it home for what proved to be the game-winning score with 15 minutes remaining.
The match ended with the ball in front of the Pirate goal as Walla Walla had all 11 players, including the keeper, in the box in a frenzied effort to score.
Peninsula improved to 3-1-1 in conference play and 6-3-2 overall while Walla Walla fell to 3-0-1 and 5-0-1 following the conference-counting crossover setback.
The Peninsula men return to the cozy confines of the Wally Sigmar Athletic Complex at 4 p.m. Wednesday for a key West Division showdown against Highline.
