PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College’s men’s and women’s soccer teams celebrated what has become an autumn tradition Wednesday night at Wally Sigmar Field — the Pirates winning another pair of Northwest Athetic Conference North Region titles and the accompanying first-round bye in the NWAC Tournament — after a doubleheader sweep of Bellevue on sophomore night.
Chasing a back-to-back-to-back NWAC championship, the Pirate men (9-0-3, 10-0-3) had work to do entering Wednesday’s game in a virtual dead heat with Whatcom (8-0-4), which wrapped its regular season last Saturday.
Peninsula dominated possession, corner kicks and put up 31 total shots in the contest to just one shot for the Bulldogs.
The Pirates finally broke through in the 81st minute when Edwin Diaz found Jeremy Obah, who converted a short shot to the left side for a 1-0 Peninsula lead.
Kristian Holdsworth earned the shutout in goal without having to make a save.
The win marked Peninsula’s seventh consecutive NWAC North Region title and 14th in 15 seasons.
Women’s match
Elise Maffeo and Cailey Ridgeway each scored a goal and assisted on another Pirate score as the Peninsula women (12-0-1) wrapped their North Region slate with a 4-0 win over Bellevue.
Seeking to repeat as NWAC champions, the Pirates already had clinched their 15th consecutive North Region title entering the contest.
ISIS-Jade Bryant put the Pirates on the board early, scoring an unassisted goal in the fifth minute.
Kasi Baker found the net in the 34th minute, assisted by Ridgeway, for a 2-0 halftime lead.
Maffeo added an insurance goal in the 59th and assisted on Ridgeway’s score in the 82nd minute.
Jordyn Labajo and Alexandra Naill combined in goal on the shutout.
The teams will host a playoff doubleheader at Wally Sigmar Field on Nov. 8.
The Pirate men will face the winner of Wednesday’s regional playoff between South No. 3 Southwest Oregon (6-5-1) and East No. 2 Columbia Basin (13-1-1) at noon.
The Peninsula women will host the winner between South No. 3 Portland (7-3-3) and East No. 2 Columbia Basin (11-2-2) at 2:30 p.m.
Peninsula College’s men’s and women’s soccer teams celebrated earning Northwest Athletic Conference North Region championships and first-round byes in the NWAC playoffs.
The Pirate men (noon) and women (2:30 p.m.) will host quarterfinal contests Nov. 8 at Wally Sigmar Field.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@peninsuladaily news.com.

