PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles girls soccer team improved to 2-0 on the season, coming from behind late in the second half to hold off an always-tough Klahowya squad 2-1 at the new Monroe Field in Port Angeles.
“We knew our two nonleague games would be good tests,” said coach Dan Horton. The Roughriders’ other win was over King’s. “Klahowya always makes a deep run in the 1A playoffs and made it to the state quarterfinals last year. This was a great way to test our team.”
The teams went into the break tied 0-0, though Horton said the Riders felt like they were dominating play. Klahowya struck first, scoring in the 48th minute after the Riders failed to clear the ball out after a corner kick.
“We felt like we dominated. It can be hard to feel like you’ve dominated a whole half and then suddenly you’re down 1-0,” Horton said. “To the girls’ credit, there was no getting down on each other or themselves.”
The Riders got their first girl in the 60th minute on what Horton called an “amazing” shot by freshman Emma Desjardins, who scored her second career goal to tie it at 1-1. Desjardins took a through ball from Mariah Traband, who got credit for the assist, on the left side of the field and from a very sharp angle near the end line, used her left foot to kick the ball over everyone, including Klahowya’s keeper and off the post into the net. It wasn’t quite a zero-angle shot, but it was close.
“That was only her second career goal, but that is one that no one will forget,” Horton said.
Traband got the game-winner in the 80th minute on a through ball from veteran Teanna Clark to give the Riders the win.
Horton said goalkeeper Kennedy Rognlien played an “amazing game” and that the one goal she allowed was not her fault.
Horton said it was a physical game, as it usually is with Klahowya.
“It was a very physical game. We don’t believe in giving anyone anything easy. The girls played physical, but it was clean. They made Klahowya work for it.”
Horton also said Sophia Ritchie played a strong game in the defensive backfield.
Port Angeles (2-0) begins North Olympic play Thursday, traveling to Belfair to play North Mason (0-1)
East Jefferson 6, Coupeville 4
COUPEVILLE — The East Jefferson Rivals saw six different players find the net in the team’s season opener Monday.
“We did great,” coach Rob Cantley said. “The score was 6-1 at halftime and so we decided to play a bunch of JV girls to play the second half. We didn’t want to run up the score, and we are playing again today and Thursday, so we wanted to conserve some energy.
“We had six different players score all six goals which is pretty cool,” Cantley said.
Gracie Witheridge led the way, scoring on a connection with Freya Gellert-De Palma in the 10th minute. Witheridge assisted on the next two Rivals’ scores, a goal by RJ Spainhower-Oas and a 25th minute score when Witheridge got a touch on the ball on a free kick and Macy Little was there to knock in a shot for a 3-0 lead.
“RJ played a lot of goalie for us last year, so it was fun to have her out there in the field,” Cantley said.
Olivia McClemans added an unassisted goal, pouncing on a loose ball and sending the ball into a far corner.
Sophomore Rayna Pray scored on a ball from Ellie Anderson for a 5-0 lead and Anderson added an unassisted goal before halftime.
Cantley said freshman goalkeeper Lila Morgan saved a penalty kick.
“After eight or so years of coaching girls soccer, Lila is the first true goalkeeper I’ve ever had. She’s played this position by choice for years, went to camp, and we are looking forward to her holding down that spot for a long time,” he said.
East Jefferson (1-0) played Bellevue Christian (0-0) late Tuesday in a Nisqually League opener after press deadline. The Rivals host Seattle Christian (0-1, 0-2) at 6 p.m. Thursday in Port Townsend.
