PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles poured in five goals and posted a 5-0 shutout victory over the Class 3A Bainbridge Spartans in the Roughriders’ regular season opener.
Head coach Scott Moseley said Port Angeles dominated from the opening whistle.
“Millie Long netted the first of her two goals only three minutes into the contest when she corralled a bouncing ball with her back to goal and unleashed a strong volley far post past the Spartan keeper,” Moseley said.
The Riders kept the pressure up and added a score in the 34th minute. Long tallied goal number two when Catie Brown played a perfect pass to Long who hit it left footed. Long earned the assist on the Riders’ third goal by Bailee Larsen.
Moseley said Port Angeles eased up a bit in the second half, but the Riders were able to still pressure Bainbridge.
Wenzl hit the crossbar from 35 yards on a free kick and then earned her first goal of the season on a penalty kick after Larsen had been fouled in the penalty box.
Brown finished the scoring in the 63rd minute after a Wenzl free kick was flicked onto Brown’s foot, who finished smartly to the right side of the goal.
Moseley said the Riders also controlled the game defensively, limiting the Spartans to three shots, only two of which were on goal.
“Senior goalie Madi Roening and freshman Saylah Commerton split the shutout,” Moseley said.
Kiana Watson-Charles earned defensive player of the game honors for her strong play down the left side and helping start the Port Angeles counterattack.
Praise for Petty, Long
Coach Moseley singled out Millie Long and freshman Anna Petty for their play.
“Millie just keeps scoring and getting assists for her teammates’ goals. She is such a danger, teams are forced to deal with her but she can still find the open girl for the assists,” said Moseley.
“Petty had the best debut performances I’ve seen for a ninth grader. She dominated the midfield, won the ball in the air, and was able to take a number of shots.”
Port Angeles (1-0-0) hosts rival Sequim tonight at 6:45 p.m.
Sequim 2, Klahowya 1
SEQUIM — Abby Schroeder scored a pair of second-half goals to lift the Wolves to a win over the Eagles — a team that finished third in the state in Class 1A in 2018.
“There are lots of things to work on but lots of positives,” Sequim coach Derek Vander Velde said.
“We had to tweak some stuff going through the game. Our first half wasn’t our greatest and in the second half we pulled together and played our style of soccer.”
Schroeder scored the games first goal.
“The first one was probably from about 30 yards out,” Vander Velde said. “The defender put her foot up deflected it and went in. “
Vander Velde was impressed by the interchange on the next Sequim goal.
“Abby crossed the ball to Hope [Glasser], Hope fed it back to her and Abby took a beautiful shot from the middle of the field about 22 yards out,” Vander Velde said. “It was a nice sequence all the way around. Working the ball out then back inside and taking a good shot.”
Klahowya scored a late goal, but couldn’t net the equalizer thanks to the efforts of Sequim goalkeeper Olivia Hare.
“They had several opportunities and Olivia Hare did a fantastic job of blocking a lot of those shots,” Vander Velde said.
Vander Velde praised Schroeder, Glasser, Hare and Hannah Wagner for their play in the game.
“This was our second game, but we were missing some players Saturday, so this was really our first opportunity for everybody to play together,” Vander Velde said.
Sequim (1-0-1) visits rival Port Angeles tonight at 6:45 p.m.
Granite Falls 3, Port Townsend 0
GRANITE FALLS — The Redhawks were a little off in their regular season opener.
“For the first game of the season and for a team starting four freshman, it was to be expected,” Port Townsend coach Rob Cantley said. “We were a little rusty and we had some growing pains.”
Cantley came away feeling good about his team’s defense.
“I think we have a good, solid platform we can build on. The philosophy is to start from the back and work on principles on our way up the field.”
He praised the play of center backs Sorina Johnston and freshman Stephanie Sanchez.
“Sanchez had a really nice debut for a freshman,” Cantley said.
Goalkeeper Emma Kane also earned a compliment.
“She came up with some vital saves when needed,” Cantley said.
All three Granite Falls’ goals came off of corner kicks.
“We will have to work on that,” Cantley said.
The Redhawks (0-1-0) visit South Whidbey tonight.
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Compiled from team reports. Email scores to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or phone 360-417-3525.
Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles’ Anna Petty, right, races Bainbridge’s Sky Henderson to the box on Tuesday night at Port Angeles Civic Field.
Conor Dowley/Olympic Peninsula News Group Abby Schroeder, center, scores what was ultimately the winning goal late in the second half of a 2-1 win for Sequim over Klahowya on Tuesday. Schroeder scored both Sequim goals in the game, both in the second half.
