PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles girls soccer team made sure to extend its season, erupting for four goals in eight minutes in the first half goals in a 7-0 shellacking of Franklin Pierce in a loser-out playoff game held Saturday at Wally Sigmar Field.
The Riders finished their regular season season last week with a tough 3-0 loss against Kingston. Coach Daniel Horton said Port Angeles responded well after that loss.
“We were seeing it in practice, they were locked in,” Horton said.
The Roughriders were led by Kedryn DeScala, who scored a hat trick. Mariah Traband had a great match, as well with a goal, two assists and a drawn penalty that led to a penalty kick goal by Teanna Clark.
“I think we were really focused,” said DeScala. “We were taking our time and passing to our feet.”
The Riders took control of the match with four goals in an eight-minute span early in the first half.
Ava-Anne Sheahan got the onslaught started when she scored in the ninth minute after a hard shot got through the Cardinals goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
In the 13th minute, Traband made an excellent long pass to DeScala, who ran past the Cardinals’ defenders for a goal. Less than a minute later, it was Traband and DeScala working together again. Traband beat a defender down the right wing and made a perfect cross that found DeScala for a header into the goal.
Brooke Pierce completed the flurry in the 17th minute when she scored on a long, high shot from outside the box to make it 4-0.
The Riders kept pouring it on in the second half. Traband drew a penalty in the box in the 49th minute when she broke down the field all alone for a clear shot. She was hauled down roughly from behind in what could have been a red card. Clark took the penalty, having to kick ball in twice because she didn’t wait for the referee’s whistle the first time.
Traband scored in the 55th minute with the assist to Lilly Anne Lancaster, who made a long pass from midfield to find her teammate streaking down the wing.
Traband nearly scored again on a great sharp-angle shot from near the end line that went behind the Franklin Pierce goalkeeper but was kept out by a Cardinals’ defender.
DeScala got her hat trick late in the second half on what was supposed to be a pass into the box. The Franklin Pierce keeper misjudged it and it trickled through her and into the goal.
As a No. 8 seed, the Riders are in a tough district bracket. Port Angeles (9-7) now plays at Olympic League champion Bainbridge (15-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Win or lose, the Riders play again on the road at 7 p.m. Thursday against either Kingston (11-4) or Steilacoom (11-1-4) for the right to qualify for the state 2A tournament.
Horton had talked to the players about giving themselves the opportunity to play at least two more games and now they have accomplished that.
Eatonville 1, Sequim 0
EATONVILLE — Playing on a poor, muddy field, the Sequim Wolves battled Eatonville tough, but fell 1-0, losing two players to injury in the bad conditions.
“Their field was the worst I’ve seen in a long time. It was basically a mud pit. The girls did a great job of practicing mental toughness, playing their game, and not letting that get to them,” said coach Haley Hunsaker-Freeman.
Hunsaker-Freeman said Ivy Barrett and Raimey Brewer both had to leave the game with serious ankle injuries.
“The team played hard, and until the very end. They did not let up. We had Ruby Moxley Horgan who stepped up and played central midfield for us after our injuries, and Olive Bridge filled in for our defensive midfielder as well,” she said.
She also said goalkeeper Kalli Grove had some great one-on-one saves and that the Wolves had just one defensive breakdown, which Eatonville was able to take advantage of.
“It was a tough way to end the season, but the girls and our team have a lot to be proud of,” Hunsaker-Freeman said. “I am looking forward to next year, and building on this year.”
Sequim finished with a record of 5-9.
