PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend girls soccer team’s playoff hopes received a much-needed boost with a 3-1 victory over Olympic League rival Sequim on Thursday.
Reigning Olympic League MVP Irina Lyons netted two goals and Audrey McHugh one as the Redskins claimed their second straight win on a cool night at Memorial Field.
“We played very well,” Redskins assistant coach Steve Shively said.
“We’re just glad with a win versus North Mason on Tuesday and one versus Sequim today that we’re keeping our head above water as best we can.”
The win puts Class 1A Port Townsend (2-4-0 in league, 5-7-0 overall) in fifth place among the Olympic League’s 2A schools.
But it was tempered by the loss of starting central defender and senior captain Megan Gambill to a severe knee injury in the 60th minute.
“She’s a leader in more ways than one,” Shively said, “so that was a big punch in the gut.”
Man marked almost the entire game, Lyons managed to open up the scoring in the 21st minute off an assist from Lily Murock.
After the two teams battled back and forth, Lyons found the back of the net for a second time in the 51st minute, this time off a Jewel Johnson assist.
McHugh added her goal in the 75th minute before Sequim’s Vianey Cadenas kept the Wolves (1-4-0, 2-9-0) from going scoreless with a goal in the 80th minute.
The loss was Sequim’s third in a row since beating North Mason 1-0 for its first league win since 2008.
Shively lauded the defensive play of Gambill, Alex Akins, Chelsea Whipple and Taylor Mills in the back line, as well as freshman keeper Mia Henderson.
Port Townsend 3, Sequim 1
Sequim 0 1 — 1
Port Townsend 1 2 — 3
Scoring Summary
First half: 1, PT, Lyons (Murock), 21st.
Second Half: 2, PT, Lyons (Johnson), 51st; 3, PT, McHugh, 75th; 1, SE, Cadenas, 80th.
Rochester 6,
Forks 0
ROCHESTER — Two days after falling 12-0 to Elma, the Spartans put on a competitive performance in a Southwest Washington League loss to the Warriors on Thursday.
Forks goalkeeper Anastashia Fleck came up with 32 saves in the defeat, which was four goals better than a 10-0 setback to the same Rochester team earlier in the season.
“Our keeper Anastashia Fleck played incredible,” Spartans coach Andrew Peterson said.
“[The Warriors] were pressing the whole game, so it was a massive improvement from our girls from Tuesday until now.
“I was very pleased.”
Forks (0-10, 0-12) hosts Montesano on Tuesday.
Rochester 6, Forks 0
Forks 0 0 — 0
Rochester 3 3 — 6
Port Angeles 3,
North Mason 0
PORT ANGELES — The Roughriders took a step closer to the playoffs with the dominating Olympic League win Thursday at Civic Field.
Kaitlin Boston was named the offensive player of the match for one goal and two assists while Brittany McBride and Kathryn Moseley scored one goal each.
“Kaitlin had a great game,” coach Scott Moseley said.
Paxton Rodocker also had an assist as the Riders improved to 2-1-2 in league and 6-4-3 overall.
Port Angeles outshot the Bulldogs 36-1.
Rodocker was picked as the defensive player of the game while Kylee Jeffers as named transition player.
The Riders are fourth in league and third in Class 2A. The top five 2A teams advance to the playoffs.
The Riders next play at Sequim on Tuesday.
Volleyball
Neah Bay 3, Clallam Bay 2
CLALLAM BAY — This North Olympic League barn-burner between the two archrivals came right down to the wire with the Red Devils pulling it out 25-10, 13-25, 25-17, 18-25, 17-15.
“Both teams were just on [Thursday night],” Clallam Bay coach Cheryl Erickson said. “It was fun.”
“It went back-and-forth, back-and forth,” Neah Bay coach Sharon Kanichy said.
The Bruins are now 2-2 in league and 5-5 overall while the Red Devils improved to 2-2 in league.
For Neah Bay, Rebecca Thompson led the way with six serving aces and three kills while Kaela Tyler had two blocks, two aces and a kill and Courtney Winck had a monster match with five blocks, a kill and an ace.
“We’re improving with every game,” Kanichy said.
Jeddie Herndon, Clallam Bay’s libero, had an outstanding match while Jazzmine Randall had a strong serving match, Erickson said.
Jamie Parker was strong on defense while Melissa Willis controlled the net for the Bruins.
“Melissa is an animal around the net,” Erickson said. “She won’t let anything get by her.”
The Red Devils next host Crescent on Tuesday while Clallam Bay next hosts Crescent next Thursday.
Vashon Island 3, Chimacum 0
CHIMACUM — The Cowboys played the Nisqually League-leading Pirates tough in the first game but then fell apart.
It got easier for Vashon in each game, 25-20, 25-15, 25-4.
“We were passing well and we were staying with them in the first game but then we ran out of steam,” coach Sally Dankert said.
The Cowboys are 1-8 in league and 3-9 overall.
Alyssa Gale led the Cowboys with eight digs, four kills and two aces while Lauren Thacker had six digs, four kills and was 9 of 9 serving.
Olivia Baird led the defense with nine digs while Kiersten Snyder was 100 percent serving.
Chimacum next plays at Seattle Christian on Monday.
Forks 3,
Rochester 2
ROCHESTER — The Spartans improved their chances for a playoff berth with the barn-burner of a win.
The scores were 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12.
Forks now is 6-4 in SWL-Evergreen Division and 7-4 overall.
“We’re looking good,” coach Jennifer Neel said.
Sydney Christensen led the Spartans with 11 kills, two blocks and two stuffs while Casey Williams was right behind with 10 kills, three blocks and three aces.
Setter JIllian Raben dished out 25 assists in the match.
The Spartans next will host Montesano on Tuesday.
Sequim 3,
Port Townsend 0
PORT TOWNSEND — The Wolves had an easy time in the Olympic League match, winning 25-7, 25-10, 25-11 on Thursday.
Sequim played everybody to improve to 4-1 in league and 9-2 overall.
The Wolves now will prepare for archrival Port Angeles, the only team to beat them in league play, at home Tuesday.
Haleigh Harrison led the Wolves against the Redskins with 15 kills, eight digs and three stuff blocks while Hannah Hudson had a match-high 10 digs with five aces and three perfect passes.
Setter Taylor Balkan spread around 23 assists and had eight digs to go along with her 21 of 22 serving and seven aces.
Lex Besand had six kills, three perfect passes and an ace.
Klahowya 3, Crescent 1
SILVERDALE — The Loggers were dealt their first loss of the season in a tough nonleague road match against the 2A Eagles on Thursday night.
Crescent went toe-to-toe with the Olympic League squad before falling 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 25-21.
“It was a hard-fought match. The games were there for the taking,” Crescent coach Alex Baker said.
“The Loggers made a few mistakes they shouldn’t have made. This was a match we could have won.”
Rachel Bowen led the Loggers with 12-of-13 serving, two aces, 21 assists and two tips.
Shannon Williams was also deadly at the service line for Crescent, putting away five aces while also coming up with nine blocks, two tips and three kills.
Sara Moore was 9 of 10 serving with one ace, one tip and nine kills, while teammate Bonny Hazelett was 9 of 10 serving with two tips and five kills.
“The Loggers played well tonight, they just fell a little short,” Baker said.
Crescent next heads to Neah Bay on Tuesday for a North Olympic League showdown. A win would clinch an NOL title for the Loggers (3-0, 9-1).
Port Angeles 3, North Mason 0
PORT ANGELES — The Riders ran roughshod over the Bulldogs for a 25-15, 25-7, 25-8 win in Olympic League action Thursday night.
The victory kept Port Angeles (5-0, 11-0) unbeaten while also setting up a critical matchup at Sequim (4-1, 9-2) next Tuesday.
“Our passing was good and our hitting was on,” Rider coach Christine Halberg said.
Kiah Jones led the Rider charge with 15 kills, seven digs, one block and three aces.
Darian Foley added seven kills, two digs and three blocks, while Danielle Rutherford served 21 for 21 with five aces, four kills, three blocks and four digs.
Emily Drake had 19 assists, one kill and one dig, and Lauren Norton had 10 digs.
Girls Swimming
Port Angeles 137, Kingston 46
PORT ANGELES — The Roughriders concluded their home season by swamping the Buccaneers in Olympic League action Thursday.
The Riders, 5-1 in league and 5-2 overall, earned a state qualifying time in the 200-yard freestyle relay and now has three relays qualified for state before the end of the regular season.
The 200 free relay captured first with a state-qualifying time of 1:47.11 with Tracie Macias, Ashlee Reid, Brooke Sires and Tarah Erickson.
Earning district qualifying times were Tracie Macias in the 100 breaststroke (first place) in 1:17.51 and Lexie pankowski in 200 individual medley (fourth) in 2:47.33.
The Riders won 11 of the 12 events and outscored Kingston in all 12 events.
Tracie Macias and Kaitline Fairchild were double winners with Macias taking the 50 free as well as the 100 breast and Fairchild winning the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly.
Other Port Angeles winners were the 200 medley relay team, Kelly Winn in 200 free, Allison Hodgin in diving, Reid in 100 free, Kelsey Macias in 500 free and the 400 free relay.
Nine swimmers competed in their final home meet including four-year athletes Erickson, Fairchild, Stephanie Lindquist, diver Hodgin and Ruby Jackson.
Also in their final home meet were Kelsey Macias, three years; Katelyn Noard, two years in diving; and Woo-Seong Shinn and Nora Krebs, one year each.
