TACOMA — Port Angeles won its West Central District 2A playoff opener against Franklin Pierce 3-2 on penalty kicks.
The win Saturday sends the Roughriders into double-elimination, which means they will get to play at least two more matches.
Their next match is at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Fife (15-1) at Franklin Pierce High School. Win or lose, they play another match Thursday.
Coach Scott Moseley said there has been a lot of heartbreak in the past on that Franklin Pierce field for Port Angeles soccer teams.
“So the girls were very emotional. There were a lot of cheers and tears after we won the shootout,” Moseley said.
The Riders took a 1-0 lead into halftime thanks to a goal in the 13th minute on a penalty kick by Taylar Clark. Sierra Robinson drew the foul in the penalty box to create the opportunity.
The Riders fell behind 2-1 after two quick goals in the 50th and 55th minutes gave the Cardinals the lead.
Delany Wenzl scored a goal to tie it up in the 64th minute, booting in a pass on a free kick from 30 yards out by Shannon Cosgrove, who picked up an assist.
Moseley said in the overtime, goalie Madelyn Wenzl made a pair of crucial saves to preserve the tie and send the match to penalty kicks.
During the penalty kicks, Madelyn Wenzl only gave up one goal, while Clark, Cosgrove, Kyrsten McDuffy and Emily Boyd scored on their kicks for the Riders.
Moseley said the Riders only have to win one more match to make the state 2A tournament. The Port Angeles girls soccer team hasn’t made state since 1986, he said.
Sequim 1, Steilacoom
Meanwhile, Sequim also won its game late Saturday afternoon, beating Steilacoom 1-0. The Wolves will play White River at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Fife High School.
There is a possibility that if both the Riders and Wolves lose Tuesday, they will end up playing each other on Thursday to advance to state. They split two matches in the regular season, including one match that went to penalty kicks.
North Kitsap 3, Port Angeles 0
On Thursday, the Riders fell 3-0 to North Kitsap on Thursday, allowing three second-half goals in the loss.
“[We] narrowly missed goals on breakaway chances from Emily Body and [Sierra] Robinson, but the chances were stopped by a sliding North Kitsap goalie,” Moseley said.
“Madelyn Wenzl was solid in goal again, with four solid saves on difficult Viking shots,” he said.
McGuffey earned transition player of the game honors for her work in the central midfield.
“It was by far Kyrsten’s best game of the season,” Moseley said.
“She is starting to show leadership on the field and her play reflected that.”
