COLLEGE SOCCER: Peninsula men shut out Edmonds 5-0

PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College moved closer to clinching an NWAC men’s soccer tournament playoff berth, dominating Edmonds with four second-half scores in a 5-0 shutout victory on Sophomore Night on Wednesday at Wally Sigmar Field.

Game in hand

It was the third straight win for the Pirates (7-2-1, 10-3-1), who hold down first place in the tight NWAC North Region standings with 22 points, ahead of Everett (5-1-5, 10-1-5, 20 points), Bellevue (5-1-4, 7-1-4, 19 points) and Whatcom (5-2-4, 6-5-6, 19 points).

The Pirates do have a game in hand against Everett and Whatcom, so any combination of a Peninsula win in the Pirates’ final two games against Bellevue or Skagit Valley, or an Everett loss in its finale at Skagit Valley, will seal the North title and a first-round tournament bye.

Sophomores were well-represented on the scoreboard for Peninsula.

Japan’s Tsubasa Abe put the Pirates up 1-0 at halftime with a goal in the 15th minute, assisted by Brian Guzman.

Freshman defender Rei Sato moved up for a 50th-minute goal, assisted by sophomore Manny Garcia.

Peninsula closed out the match with three goals in the game’s final 16 minutes.

Sophomore Abdurahim Leigh of Selah found the net, assisted by Nil Grau in the 74th, and Grau found sophomore Alphie Tucker for a 4-0 lead in the 76th minute.

Sid Gunton-Day closed out the match with a score, assisted by Guzman in the 85th.

Noah Plummer had two saves in goal to earn the shutout for the Pirates.

Peninsula visits Bellevue at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday.

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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at michael.carman@peninsuladailynews.com.