PORT ANGELES — Playing before a cacophony of nearby frogs at Peninsula College’s Sigmar Field, the Port Angeles soccer boys got a goal and an assist from Ben Schneider, beating a team visiting from Ketchikan, Alaska 3-1.
Ketchikan went 1-1-1 in their three games on the Olympic Peninsula this past week, tying Sequim 3-3 Thursday and beating Port Townsend 1-0 Friday. Only Port Angeles was able to break through for a win against the Kings.
“We knocked the ball pretty well in the first half,” said coach Chris Saari. “It was a nice tune-up for our big game Tuesday against [Olympic League 2A League first-place] North Kitsap. We’re only three points behind them.”
This is the second straight year Ketchikan has come to the Olympic Peninsula. Kings coach Dave Mitchell said his team hasn’t been able to play much at home because their field still has snow on it.
“It’s nice to come down here and play some early games. People here have been treating us friendly,” he said. Mitchell said Ketchikan only gets to play a few teams along the Alaskan Panhandle because the town is so isolated. In fact, the Kings only have 10 non-Washington games in their schedule, against teams as far away as Seward, Homer and Kenai.
“It’s nice to get some competition and nice to play some other teams,” Mitchell said. “The kids get to see the big city [Seattle] and it’s warmer down here.”
Ketchikan had a busy schedule. The Kings arrived by plane in Seattle on Thursday and drove up to Sequim in a bus, arriving a bit late, delaying the beginning of their game against Sequim. They played Port Townsend on Friday then Port Angeles on Saturday.
Port Angeles, playing without a couple of regulars due to spring break, put on the pressure early.
After a couple of dangerous shots from Austin Fischer and Tomas Lismonde, the Roughriders finally got on the board in the 29th minute with a goal from Jesse Salgado, assisted by Cameron Butler.
Ketchikan responded by pressuring the Riders’ defense late in the first half. The Kings’ Mark Jasper had a dangerous run that led to a shot and an even more dangerous cross right in front of the Riders’ goal. But, the Riders were able to keep the ball out and went into the half up 1-0.
The Riders opened the score to 2-0 when they scored again in the 49th minute on a goal by Kenny Soule after the ball got loose from the Ketchikan keeper. Schneider picked up the assist.
Ketchikan came right back with a goal in the 67th minute. The Kings kept using long kicks from their defense or goalie to try and get behind Port Angeles’ defense and this tactic finally worked when Brayden Linne got past the Rider defenders and kicked in a shot for a goal to make it 2-1.
That was the first goal the Riders had given up in more than three games. The last time they were scored on was March 21.
Schneider responded with a nice insurance goal for the Riders in the 75th minute. On a free kick from 35 yards out on the left wing, Schneider beat the Kings’ goalie and a Ketchikan defender was forced to punch the ball to keep it from bouncing in the goal, setting up a penalty kick. Schneider was able to pick up his deserved goal on the ensuing penalty kick.
Port Angeles goalie Lorenzo Delatorre made a couple of great saves, both in the second half, to preserve the win. On one, the ball got behind him after a bobble, but he was to able to grab it before it bounced over the goal-line. On the other, he was forced to leap to keep the ball out after a long, high shot by the Kings.
Saari named Schneider and Salgado his offensive stars, Michael Scott and Karsten Hertzog his defensive players and Soule his best transition player.
The Riders finished with 11 shots to Ketchikan’s four and seven corner kicks to the Kings’ 0.
Port Angeles (4-1, 6-2) next plays North Kitsap on the road at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday to try and gain a share of first place in the Olympic League 2A Division.
