BOYS SOCCER: Riders rally against Bucs and now host playoff game Tuesday

PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles boys soccer team saved the best for last, putting together its best game of the year for a much-needed win in the regular season finale, dominating Kingston 5-1 at Wally Sigmar field.

The victory handed the Roughriders (7-7, 21 points; 9-7 overall) three points and third place in the Olympic League among the 2A teams. Technically, Port Angeles tied Bremerton for second, but the Knights hold the tiebreaker and get the No. 2 seed.

Despite the lopsided score, it was a tight game until the end when the Riders scored two goals in the last 14 minutes. Kingston actually scored the opening goal of the match.

“That was our best game all year. Our build up was the best it had been all year,” said Matthew Miller, who finished with two goals and showed some flashy ball-handling, including a back-footed pass to himself to get around a defender.

“Our passing went well. We communicated well,” said Keane McClain, who had an assist and a goal, both on set pieces. He also had another corner kick that led to a goal by Hannes Spieker.

“That was our best soccer all year as far as passing,” said coach Chris Saari. “I also thought we kept our composure after giving up an early goal to Kingston.” Saari said Miller had been dealing with a tailbone injury and it was good to see him have such a solid game.

Miller’s injury is just part of a rash of injuries that have plagued the Riders this season.

“We’ve been super injured all year,” Saari said as the Riders were going with backup goalkeeper Liam McBride, who had a good game. Even after the Kingston game, three Roughriders had ice packs on their knees and hamstrings.

A loss could have sent the Riders all the way down to fifth in the Olympic League. Port Angeles now gets to host Highline at Peninsula College at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a loser-out District 2/3 tournament game.

The Buccaneers got on the board in just the fourth minute on a pretty header by Edwin Vallecillo.

Port Angeles had some good chances for an equalizer, the best being a shot by Josiah Long that forced a diving save in the 12th minute. Kingston nearly got a 2-0 lead in the 18th minute when a high shot on a free kick forced a leaping save by McBride, who knocked the ball over the crossbar.

The Riders broke through in the 20th minute when Spieker drew a holding foul in the penalty area. McClain took the penalty kick and calmly converted it to make the score 1-1.

Port Angeles scored just two minutes later on a set piece. McClain took a corner kick that the Kingston goalkeeper dropped. Hannes was right there to pounce on the loose ball and score to make it 2-1.

The Buccaneers almost tied it in the 35th minute on a 55-yard free kick from their own end. A powerful high shot bounced high and nearly got past McBride, but he was able to corral it.

The Riders got their third goal just before the half on another set piece. McClain hit a free kick that Miller gathered to beat the Kingston keeper.

Miller nearly got his second goal in the 60th minute when he used his speed to split two Kingston defenders. His shot forced a good save by the Bucs keeper, but it seemed like a prophetic play moments later. Just six minutes later, Miller took a perfect long pass from Zak Alton, beat a defender and this time put his shot over the keeper’s arms for a 4-1 lead.

The Riders got their final score in the final moments of the match when Spieker scored his second goal on a loose ball in the penalty area.

Saari named Miller his offensive player of the match. In addition to his two goals, he had a nice back-footed pass to himself to beat a defender and create a scoring chance. He named Alton, Landon Close and McBride his defensive players of the match and Spieker, McClain and Long his transition players of the match.