PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles men's soccer team got off to a great start and had some great chances in the second half, but in the end, an experienced Klahowa team sank a few shots on a breakaway to make it 3-1. was able to achieve victory. Eagles win at Wally Sigmar Field.
Port Angeles had nine shots on goal and Klahowya had eight, in what coach Chris Saari called an “end-to-end” game.
“Klahowya is a solid team,” Saari said. “We made some mistakes defensively and made us pay for it. We need to tighten up some things defensively. We're still a young team.”
The Eagles applied pressure early in the game, but the Riders' defense held up. Klahowya broke through with a goal from Oliver Peterson in the 19th minute.
Caleb LaGrange was a threat for the Roughriders throughout the game. He emerged late in the second half with a stunning solo shot on a long run in the 32nd minute, hitting the ball against the chest of the Klahowya defense and firing a 25-yard shot that hit the edge of the left post and headed into the goal. At the end of the first half, the score remained 1-1.
The Riders had three great chances in the second half and could have easily taken a 4-1 lead with a little more luck. The first shot came in the 42nd minute when Lagrange hit a long shot from the right side of the field, but from the sideline it looked like he had no chance. However, his shot beat the Klahowya keeper and bounced off the far post and crossbar.
Three minutes later, Port Angeles made a great play on a corner kick that required a great save from Klahowya keeper Regine Moore. Jacob Weaver took a corner kick and Canyon Anderson faked a shot, but a great shot went through his legs to Matthew Miller, but Moore wasn't fooled by the fake and jumped in to stop it.
Anderson had another chance in the 54th minute when he connected with a cross from Lagrange close to the penalty area, but his shot went just over the crossbar. Minutes later, Miller had the best chance of the game when he hit the crossbar with a shot from just outside the box.
Missed chances came back to haunt the Riders when Klahowya's Sage Bell scored to make it 2-1. Peterson added an insurance goal for the Eagles in the 73rd minute.
The good news for the Roughriders is that it was a nonleague game. AJ Martinez injured his ankle late in the game and was forced to leave the game, but was on his feet after that.
Saari named LaGrange the offensive player of the game and Grant Butterworth the defensive player of the game. He also named Anderson the transition player for this game.
The Roughriders (1-1, 2-2) will look to bounce back in Tuesday's Olympic League game at North Mason (0-1, 0-1-1).
Bellevue Christian 4, East Jefferson 0
PORT TOWNSEND — The East Jefferson boys soccer team lost to Bellevue Christian, 4-0, in a Nisqually League game Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
“Our sons got off to a really flat start. They [Bellevue Christian] They were hungrier and more aggressive,” coach Logan Stegner said.
“It wasn't our best game,” Stegner said. “We’re still trying to find our mojo.”
Stegner said goaltender Emilio Lopez played well and “kept us in the game.” He also said that René Martin and Simon Barlow played well.
The Rivals (1-2, 1-3) will play Cascade Christian (3-0, 3-0) next Tuesday.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles' Matthew Miller stumbles into the net after hitting Klahowya goaltender Regine Moore Saturday afternoon in Port Angeles.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles' Jacob Weaver (right) dribbles past Klahowya's Elijah Boddy as Klahowya's Oliver Peterson follows him Saturday at Peninsula University.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles' Miles Close (right) scores a loose ball and Klahowya's Sage Bell (left) passes Close's teammate Mason Spangler in Port Angeles on Saturday. try to
