Editor’s note: Port Angeles defeated Lindbergh 4-1 in Tacoma on Saturday afternoon to finish sixth in the Bi-District Tournament and qualify for the state 2A Girls Soccer Tournament later this week.
PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles’ ability to share the ball was no passing fancy in Thursday’s 4-0 Bi-District girls soccer victory over league foe Olympic.
But there was an awful lot of fancy passing from the Roughriders in the loser-out contest at Wally Sigmar Field.
With the win, Port Angeles (13-4-0) moved on to play Lindbergh (11-3-0) on Saturday at North Mason in a loser-out, winner-to-state game. The Roughriders won that game 4-1. More in Monday’s sports section on that game.
All four goals in the Olympic victory came off of stellar assists by Port Angeles.
“This was by far our best passing game, the goals were developed off of really good passing and that’s been an emphasis for in practice, so that’s what I’m happiest about,” coach Scott Moseley said.
Sophomore Izzy Felton linked up with Anna Petty inside the 18-yard box and Petty placed a perfect shot to the upper right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.
“We’ve been working on lots of different passing patterns and overlaps and different runs in practice and I just implemented that in the game because that’s what we’ve been working on for weeks and it worked out tonight,” Petty said. “And that’s how we got the other goals, too, our hard work in practice.”
Port Angeles had control of the ball for vast stretches of time during the game and produced three other worthy shots on goal but Olympic goalkeeper Maddie Puckett kept the Trojans hanging around.
Savannah Croteau found Petty on an upfield run with Petty slipping the ball to Felton for another goal to the upper right in the 53rd minute.
Felton and Petty teamed again on Felton’s second goal, a play with such crisp back-and-forth passing it resembled a two-on-one basketball drill.
“Izzy, that was her sixth and seventh goals on the season,” Moseley said. “We’ve been working hard with her on being aggressive when she goes towards goal.”
Petty was impressed with Felton’s performance, too.
“I felt like Izzy stood out with her two goals,” Petty said. “Our back line was really solid and our midfielders and forwards linked up really well.”
A Bailee Larson goal off of a long run upfield by Piper Williams rounded out the scoring.
With two previous wins over Olympic, Petty said the Riders expected to earn a favorable result.
“Our energy was high and we weren’t going to leave without a win,” Petty said. “We had to play confident and play our game.”
It was the Riders’ 11th shutout on the season, good for second in school history, Moseley said.
Vashon 2, East Jefferson 1
TACOMA — East Jefferson’s season came to a close one game away from a winner-to-state contest after a 2-1 Class 1A West Central District loss to Vashon on Thursday at Mount Tahoma High School.
“A little bit of a heartbreak,” coach Rob Cantley said of the defeat.
“The girls played their hearts out. We didn’t have Ava Shiflett, our leading scorer, who was sick. They gave a good account of themselves.”
Cantley said the Rivals (6-7-3) went up 1-0 just before halftime.
“Audrey Mathes sent in a good ball through two defenders on the right and Kaylen Pray took a low shot to the bottom corner,” Cantley said.
“It was good to go into half with the lead, but we knew they were trying to throw everything at us in the second half.”
Vashon had the wind at its back after halftime on a windy, rainy November night.
“They were trying to use the wind to their advantage sending in shots from about 40 yards and in,” Cantley said.
“About halfway through, Vashon had a free kick about 50 yards out on the right, right in front of me and I watched the ball swerve this way and that and it couldn’t have been more perfectly placed into the upper 90 of the goal.”
Vashon took the lead in the final minutes.
“And with about six or seven minutes left they had a corner kick and the ball came in and it was chaotic scene with us trying to clear and them trying to shoot and one of their players was able to knock it in.”
Cantley said the season ranks high in his coaching career.
“Probably one of the more fun seasons I’ve coached for boys and girls teams,” Cantley said. “It was a pretty good team with great attitudes. Having some quality players from both schools really helps to start develop the program.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
