PORT ANGELES — An ability to adapt to a move to the midfield this season helped junior Maddie Boe and the Port Angeles girls soccer team achieve big things this year.
The Roughriders tallied the most wins, nine, by the program in 14 seasons and the third-most in 28 seasons.
They finished third in the Olympic League and reached districts, the team’s ultimate goal according to Boe, for the first time since 2011.
Boe’s willingness to embrace a shift in position from forward to midfield were important factors for the team’s improvement.
Her performance has earned Boe the All-Peninsula MVP for the second straight season as determined by a poll of area coaches and Peninsula Daily News sports staff.
“I just wanted to help out the team as best as I could,” Boe said.
“To take a step up from last year, score some more goals, and as a captain focus on building more of a team aspect than there has been in the past.”
Boe did improve, leading the North Olympic Peninsula with eight goals and adding three assists on the season.
The intent of moving Boe from the forward position she filled in her freshman and sophomore seasons wasn’t initially to boost the offense, according to Port Angeles coach Scott Moseley.
“We had a need to move her back and become more defensive-minded in midfield, and her quickness and ability to defend the ball really paid off for us,” Moseley said.
“It sort of worked together that we would match her up with a quicker midfielder on the other team and Maddie would be able to slow them down and provide quickness in the midfield.
“It was a benefit for her, since she was able to see more of the field and not just be a goal scorer but to get some assists and see more of the attack.”
The emergence of underclassmen goal scorers — freshman Emily Boyd tallied seven goals, sophomore transfer Taylar Clark came through with six, Sierra Robinson scored three and Shannon Cosgrove had one — helped with the change.
“We had Taylar and the freshman starting to score, so we didn’t need to have Maddie be the lone scorer,” Moseley said.
Willing to potentially sacrifice individual success for the team’s goals was an easy decision for Boe.
“Playing up top is fun but I like playing in the midfield more,” Boe said.
“I can noticeably help the team out by being on the ball and finding teammates for scoring chances and assists.”
Boe focused on improving her striking range during the offseason — a helpful happenstance with her move to the middle.
“Technically she developed a longer-range, more powerful shot and was able to score or assist on a couple of goals with longer shots this season,” Moseley said.
This was evident on one of Moseley’s favorite plays of the season, when Boe assisted on a Sierra Robinson goal to tie North Mason at 1-1, in a game the Riders eventually won on penalty kicks.
“We had talked about the North Mason keeper playing too far from the goal line,” Moseley said.
“So Maddie settled the ball down and from 35 or 40 yards out she hit a long shot, kind of optimistic, hopeful something would happen.”
The Bulldog keeper was caught in no-man’s land, barely able to leap to save the ball from net but unable to safely gather the ball.
That’s where a running Robinson came in, heading the rebound in for the Port Angeles equalizer.
“That play really showcased her skill to settle the ball, her ability to apply coach’s instruction and hit it long and skill to accurately hit a 35-, 40-yard shot — and all from her midfield position,” Moseley said.
Boe’s favorite strike also came from long distance, the final score in a 5-1 defeat of rival Sequim at Civic Field.
“The last one against Sequim was a far shot that went over the keepers head,” Boe said.
“I think the ball was dropped back to me, I was open about 25 yards out the left side of the field.
“That was the first one I’ve made from pretty far out.”
Boe’s presence in midfield also is a testament to her growth in the sport and maturity on the field.
“Most great players, their freshman and sophomore years they are going to score goals, but as players age you need them in the central midfield for their maturity and their total range of skills,” Moseley said.
“She’s become more than a goal scorer; she’s able to play defense and control the game with the ball in midfield.”
Boe nearly echoed Moseley’s comments.
“My freshman year I liked being forward because I liked to score,” Boe said.
“Now I care more about the team and working together to win as a team.
“By dropping back into midfield and helping out teammates, it’s helped make that come together.”
Player and coach both agree on where she needs to focus her improvements in order to continue to grow as a player.
“Where I can see her improving is developing a couple of different types of shots, and an ability to bend the ball, instead of a straight-on kick,” Moseley said.
Boe feels the same.
“My shot can still get better,” Boe said.
“I need to work on my left foot and I have to continue to see all the passes, while working together with teammates to get the ball upfield.”
Moseley had one other hope for next season, a year in which the Riders will return most of their offensive firepower but lose their entire defensive line and goalkeeper to graduation.
“She’ll have to realize teams will focus on her,” Moseley said.
“The advanced player will be able to figure that out and still score when the other team is man-marking her.
“I’m confident she’ll do that.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsualdailynews.com.
