BELLINGHAM — The Peninsula College men’s soccer team got a hat trick from NWAC leading scorer Nil Grau, including a goal in the 90th minute, to come from behind and beat Whatcom 3-2, locking up another North Region championship.
Meanwhile, the women, who had already clinched the North Region, remained perfect, getting four goals and nine points from Shawna Larson in a 7-1 win over the Orcas in a Saturday doubleheader.
The men were down to Whatcom much of the game after Eduardo Rocha scored a pair of goals in the 31st and 38th minutes to make it 2-1 for the Orcas.
Grau tied the match at 2-2 in the 71st minute. It appeared the Pirates were headed to their second straight tie when Grau completed his hat trick in the 90th minute to give Peninsula the win.
The game gave Grau 17 goals on the season and 45 points (11 assists), leading the NWAC in both categories by wide margins.
The Pirates (9-0-1, 12-0-1) return home at noon Saturday to host Shoreline (3-6-0, 6-7-0) at home for sophomore appreciation day.
Women’s game
The women actually started out behind to Whatcom as the Orcas got a goal in the eighth minute. Paige Johnson and Larson scored back-to-back goals only 32 seconds apart in the 13th minute to give the Pirates the lead for good.
Johnson finished with two goals, while Eliana Barden had a goal and an assist. Shiori Shintaku also had an assist.
With her scoring outburst, Larson joins Grau in leading the NWAC in both scoring and goals. She has 14 goals and 34 points.
In fact, the Pirates, despite playing only 12 games, have three of the top five goal-scorers in the NWAC (Larson, Shintaku and Risa Nishida) and three of the top five players in points (Again, Larson, Shintaku and Nishida).
Since Shoreline does not have a women’s program this year, Peninsula does not play again until Oct. 30 on the road at second-place Bellevue. Bellevue cannot catch the Pirates, but Peninsula will be looking to remain perfect on the season.
Both the men’s and women’s teams will host playoff quarterfinals games in November.
