PREP SOCCER: Roughriders start slow, then flex power against Knights

PORT ANGELES — Even on a night in which they looked flat at times, the Port Angeles soccer girls dominated.

That’s just how good they appear to be this season.

The Roughriders won 4-0 over Bremerton, getting two goals and an assist from Millie Long, one of the best headers you’ll ever see at the prep level from Hannah Reetz and an outstanding game from their defense.

The win keeps the Riders perfect at 8-0 on the season, leading the Olympic League 2A Division with a 5-0 record.

But this team is so good that coach Scott Moseley wasn’t pleased with the performance.

“This game will humble them,” Moseley said. “I thought Bremerton outplayed us. We came out flat.”

Moseley said soccer is a sport based on work rate and that the Riders didn’t have a lot of energy early. Ironically, they also got up 3-0 at the half. Moseley was happier with the team’s performance in the second half, despite only scoring one goal and he said the Riders’ defense was completely solid, allowing zero genuinely dangerous scoring chances to the Knights.

It was the Roughriders’ fifth shutout in eight games. Port Angeles has allowed just three goals all season and has not allowed more than one goal in any game. They have outscored their opponents 38-3 so far this season.

“Teams aren’t getting shots on us. The defense was really solid,” Moseley said.

Second half

In the second half, the Riders’ Long made strong run after strong run on long passes, several of them coming from Kiana Watson-Charles.

There’s a reason why Long is leading the Olympic League with 19 goals. She’s fast, strong and a skilled shooter.

On Tuesday, she often times battled against three or four defenders converging on as she made essentially solo runs and Bremerton still couldn’t handle her. The Knights didn’t have an answer for her speed and strength.

After one of Long’s long (no pun intended) looping run from the center of the field all the way to the sideline and then back to the side of the goalmouth where she got off a dangerous shot that required a diving save, all Bremerton coach Lance McCoy could do was exclaim, “Oh my God, did you guys see that?”

Long’s hard work paid off later in that second half, as she made a similar looping solo run to the sideline, fighting off several defenders. She got completely past the Knights; defense and got off a beautiful shot to the upper right-hand corner, tucking the ball into the net over the goalkeepers’ arms.

Again, all McCoy could do afterward was say, “unbelievable…”

On another second-half run by Long, she was one-on-four against Bremerton defenders and the Knights were forced to kick the ball out of bounds.

For all of Long’s heroics, the prettiest goal of the night was actually by Reetz in the first half. On a corner kick by Delaney Wenzl, Reetz jumped up and hit a perfect header into the net to make it 2-0.

Wenzl also had the Riders’ first goal of the night with the assist going to Long.

Watson-Charles had two assists, both on Long’s goals. Additionally, she played outstanding defense, winning numerous balls away from Bremerton offensive players.

Bremerton got a few shots on goal against Riders’ keeper Madi Roening, but none of them were dangerous other than a free kick. On that play in the first half, the Knights took a free kick from 30 yards out that actually went over Roening’s head. From the far sideline, it actually appeared it got in for a goal, but the shot was wide and simply went into the side of the net.

Moseley also gave credit to Bailee Larson for playing a strong game in the midfield.

The Riders play at Olympic (2-3, 3-5) on Thursday looking to maintain their hold on first place.