SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — Manaia Siania-Unutoa is a bit worried about the Peninsula Pirates’ 8 a.m. game Sunday.
“Mornings aren’t really, of course, all of our things, but we’re going to have to learn how to come out hard in the beginning,” the sophomore goalkeeper for the Peninsula College women’s team said.
“We’ve never played that early.”
At that moment prior to Thursday’s practice, though, the name of the team that the Pirates face in that early Sunday morning escaped Siania-Unutoa.
Not because the team, Columbia Basin, isn’t formidable, but because Peninsula opens the Northwest Athletic Conference Friendlies with an important matchup.
“See, we’re focused on Treasure Valley,” Siania-Unutoa said with a laugh.
“We’ll know our second-game [opponent] when it’s here.
“That’s the important one, Treasure Valley. Especially since we only got out of that one 1-0. We got lucky with that one.”
The Pirates squeaked by the Chukars in last season’s NWAC quarterfinals when Kai Mahuka got just enough of her foot on the ball to score the only goal of the game in the 73rd minute.
Even though they won, Siania-Unutoa said the Pirates didn’t play their best against Treasure Valley.
“I didn’t get to play that game, but I would really like to get out, show them how we can really play,” Siania-Unutoa said.
Siania-Unutoa, the Pirates only returning goalkeeper, has been nursing a neck injury this week, but plans to be ready for Saturday’s game.
“I know they’re going to need me for Treasure Valley,” she said. “They gave us a rough time in the playoffs, so I’m going to have to [play].”
The Peninsula men and women are among 50 teams who will compete at the NWAC Friendlies, the conference’s season-opening event, on Saturday and Sunday at Willamalane Center for Sports and Recreation.
The Pirate men open against Walla Walla on Saturday at 11 a.m., and then face former conference rival Highline on Sunday at noon.
The Peninsula women face Treasure Valley on Saturday at 3 p.m. They follow that with a doubleheader Sunday, the 8 a.m. game against Columbia Basin and a 4 p.m. match with Grays Harbor.
Midfielder Bianca Andrade said having three games in two days should be more beneficial than grueling for the Pirates.
“I don’t think it’ll be something that we can’t do. It will be a test, it will be something that we need, I think, something to take as a learning experience,” Andrade said.
“But I think the two games [in one day] will be good for us. It will give us a lot to look at, from not only our sophomore class but our freshman class as well.”
Time to scout
The Peninsula men also will benefit from their matches at the NWAC Friendlies, but possibly more important will be the time when they aren’t playing because it will offer first-year head coach Cale Rodriguez a live view of the other NWAC teams, particularly those in the conference’s North Division.
“This weekend will be an opportunity to see some of those teams in the division,” Rodriguez said Thursday.
“It will be busy. You’re not only coaching your team, but scouting opponents in your division and other teams and supporting the women’s team as well.
“You probably won’t be able to see everybody you’d like to see, but you can hit some of the major teams, and that will help.”
The Pirate men will be tested in both matches.
Walla Walla won the NWAC East last year, and like Peninsula lost in the quarterfinals. Highline shared the West title with the Pirates and then went on win the NWAC championship.
The Pirates have moved to the North so this will be their only meeting with the Thunderbirds in 2015, barring a postseason showdown.
“I think the guys will be well-prepared for two tough games this weekend,” Rodriguez said.
“As a coach, I think you’ll always feel like you’re underprepared and want more time, but everybody is in that same boat and we need to be ready.
“I think our guys are itching to get out there and play, itching to play against another opponent, and hopefully we see some good results this weekend.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman contributed to this report.
Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.