SEQUIM — After 125 minutes without a goal, the Sequim boys soccer team not only finally broke through for a score, they went on to roll to a 4-0 win over North Mason to begin 1-0 in Olympic 2A League play.
“In the first half, we had quite a few chances. We had five shots on goal that just missed. We just couldn’t score,” said coach Ken Garling.
Ethan Knight got the Wolves’ first goal of the season in the 45th minute with what Garling described as a “rocket” from 20 yards out just outside the box. The assist went to Kristian Mingoy.
The Wolves got a flurry of goals later in the half, all unassisted. In the 60th minute, the Wolves had two shots that went off the post, then Brandon Wagner got a hold of a rebound and put the ball in to make it 2-0.
In the 65th minute, Rafael Flores had an unassisted goal. Then in the 69th minute, Ethan Anderson also got a rebound off a shot that banged off the post to finish the scoring at 4-0.
“It was good to finally get that going,” Garling said.
Keeper Jack Van de Wege got credit for the shutout. Garling said the Wolves’ defense played very well and he gave credit to Simon Hare for standing out in the defensive backfield.
The Wolves (1-0 in league, 3 points, 1-1 overall) next host Port Angeles (0-1, 1 point, 1-1) at 6:45 p.m. today.
Kingston 4, Port Angeles 3 (PK)
PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles boys soccer team rallied in the second half to earn a point against Kingston, though ultimately the Buccaneers came away with the win in penalty kicks.
Kingston earned three points by winning the penalty kicks 6-5. The Roughriders get a point for forcing PKs.
The Buccaneers got up 3-0 after the first half and still held that 3-0 lead deep into the second half. The Riders got goals in the 64th and 78th minutes, then a tying goal three minutes into stoppage time to tie.
“I don’t think we have ever come back from a three-goal deficit at halftime to tie a game and force overtime and penalty kicks in my tenure as head coach,” Chris Saari said. “We had the chances to win in penalty kicks, but came up short in the end, despite two big saves from sophomore goalie Marcus Hogan.”
Saari said assistant coach Andrew Cooper gave an inspiring halftime speech and the Riders changed their formation in the second half.
“Port Angeles proceeded to outplay and outwork Kingston in the second half to rally back and earn one valuable league point in the shootout,” Saari said.
Kaleb Gagnon had the first goal for the Riders, in the 64th minute, with an assist to Dayton Williams. Gagnon then collected an assist in the 78th minute when his low hard shot rebounded to Josiah Long, who scored the goal.
Xander Maestas was taken down in the penalty box in the 83rd minute and earned a penalty kick. Damon Gunderson scored the PK to send the game to overtime.
Gundersen, Keane McClain, Gagnon, Eli Fischer and Caleb McLarty all scored penalty kicks. Keeper Marcus Hogan made two penalty kick saves.
The Riders’ next game is at 6:45 p.m. today at Sequim.
