VANCOUVER — The Peninsula college men’s soccer team got off to a fast start with two goals in the first seven minutes and went on to beat Clark College 4-1 on the road this weekend.
The men bounced back from a loss last week against North Region-leading Whatcom.
Peninsula got on the board almost immediately with a goal in the third minute from Jem Njda, with an assist going to Inchun Hun. Shu Kato scored a second goal in the seventh minute unassisted.
Clark got back in the game with a goal in the 20th minute, but Peninsula rebuilt its two-goal lead with a score from Don Vaios Dovas, an unassisted goal, in the 37th minute.
The score remained 3-1 until near the end of the match when Pau Vivas Ayala scored an unassisted goal in the 87th minute.
Keeper Alejandro Lopez made three saves to earn the victory. Peninsula ended up leading in shots, 11-8.
Peninsula is locked in a three-way tie for second place in the incredibly competitive North with Whatcom leading the region by one point. Whatcom is 8-1-3 for 27 points, Peninsula 8-2-2 for 26 points and Skagit Valley 8-2-2 for 26 points.
Everett is 8-3-2 for 26 points, but both Peninsula and Skagit Valley have a game in hand on Everett.
Peninsula appears to have the easiest schedule of all these teams, however. The Pirates’ next three games are against Shoreline, Edmonds and Bellevue, the bottom teams in the region, though Edmonds and Bellevue have managed some big wins this season.
Shoreline only has one win all year. Peninsula finishes the season with what will likely be a crucial match against Skagit Valley.
Peninsula (12-2-2 overall) next plays at Shoreline (1-10-1, 1-10-2) on Wednesday.
The Peninsula women did not play this weekend. The No. 1-ranked and unbeaten women (7-0-0, 9-0-1) also play at Shoreline (2-2-2, 4-3-2) on Wednesday.
