TUKWILA — The nationally-ranked Peninsula College Pirates opened their 2014 soccer season right where they left off: winning at Starfire.
The two-time defending Northwest Athletic Conference women shut out defending South Division champion Clackamas 4-0.
Two hours later, the Peninsula men, also two-time defending conference champs, dismantled perennial South Division power Chemeketa 5-1 at the NWAC Friendlies at Starfire Sports Complex on Tuesday.
The season opener marked the debut of Kanyon Anderson as head coach of the men’s team.
Anderson, who has won four division titles and two NWAC titles in his four years as the head coach for the Pirate women, accepted the responsibility of coaching both programs this year.
“Coaching two games was a lot of fun,” Anderson said. “I get the opportunity to enjoy the game twice
“We run a soccer program here, rather than separate teams, so the philosophies and expectations are the same.”
And on opening day, the outcome was also the same — a pair of decisive victories.
Men’s Game
Peninsula 5, Chemeketa 1
A cloud of questions hovered over the Pirate men as they took the field to tackle a talented and well-coached Chemeketa team.
How would Peninsula score without its star players from 2013?
How would the Pirates compete at the NWAC level after suffering scrimmage blowouts to University of Victoria and Concordia University?
Who would play goalkeeper with none of the three players in that position able to play Tuesday due to injuries and eligibility?
How would they perform without longtime head coach Andrew Chapman on the sideline?
The Pirates wasted no time answering those questions.
Peninsula scored four times in the first half to dominate the Storm, sophomore defender Julio Soto of Reno, Nev. played brilliantly in his first match at the keeper position, and coach Anderson enjoyed his first win as the men’s head coach.
“The men played a mature game with few mistakes and a team mentality,” Anderson said.
“Julio Soto in keeper did great.”
Sophomore Caio Maciel scored the first goal of 2014 following a nice play by freshman Trevan Estrellado, who took the ball through the box and right at the Storm keeper before dishing it to his right where Maciel tapped it into an empty net 19 minutes into the match.
The Pirates added three more goals in the first half.
Freshman Eddie Benito scored off another assist from Estrellado at the 24-minute mark, freshman Chris Chertude snuck into the far post undetected on a corner kick and Maciel put the ball right to him for a wide open header 29 minutes in.
And then it was sophomore Steven Rodriguez scoring off a flick on a slicing run assisted by Keevan Webb with three minutes remaining in the half to make it 4-0.
Anderson was able to play his bench throughout the match and it was freshman Keo Ponce who gave the Peninsula a 5-0 lead on a breakaway from Rodriguez, volleying the ball into the net 65 minutes into the match.
Chemeketa broke through to spoil Soto’s shutout with a goal in the 85th minute by Oscar Contreras.
The Peninsula women and men open conference play at home Sept. 9 against Tacoma.
Women’s Game
Peninsula 4, Clackamas 0
The Pirates wasted little time getting on the scoreboard against Clackamas, scoring in the sixth minute when sophomore Katelyn Raatz placed a corner kick into the box where freshman Tasha Inong outmaneuvered a crowd of defenders to head the ball into the Cougars’ net for the first goal of her college career — and the first goal of the 2014 season.
Peninsula then put two more on the scoreboard before the end of the half, both coming from freshman Kennady Whitehead.
The midfielder from Sparks, Nev., scored one from about 15 yards out off an assist from sophomore Alyssa Bertuleit, and the second from close range, assisted by sophomore Solana Ashe.
With coach Anderson substituting liberally, the Pirates added just one goal in the second half — but it was impressive.
Freshman C.J. Stetser blasted a ball from 20 yards out into the left upper corner of the goal, assisted by freshman Michele Whan.
“We played with high energy and with a commitment to team defending,” Anderson said.
“We ran seven defenders throughout the game. It was a group effort.”
Sophomore keeper Kasie Lough recorded the shutout with a strong effort in goal that included a nice tip save late in the match.
