Fall sports preview: PC men’s soccer
2016 record: 16-0-3 overall, 14-0-1 (first) in West Division; 0-1 in NWAC playoffs
Head coach: Jake Hughes (first season)
Top returning players: Cesar Gervacio (F), Juan Carillo-Perez (F), Joey Hollimon (F), Sergio Gonzalez Reyes (M)
The Roster
No. Name Year Pos. Hometown
0 Tristan Landry Fr. GK Kenai, Alaska
00 Darius Ochoa Fr. GK Seattle
1 Heber Martinez Fr. GK Spokane
2 Sterling Penniston-John So. D Las Vegas, Nev.
3 Josiah Urquia Fr. D Sequim
4 Sergio Gonzalez Reyes So. M Reno, Nev.
5 Luis Perez Fr. D San Diego, Calif.
6 Noah Scofield Fr. D/M Stockton, Calif.
7 Jose Serna Fr. D/M Cowiche
8 Adrian Benitez So. M Riverbank, Calif.
9 Kevin Medina Fr. M Stockton, Calif.
10 Cesar Gervacio So. F San Jose, Calif.
11 Manuel Galiano Fr. F Savona, Italy
12 Joshua Lopez Fr. F/M Kona, Hawaii
13 Joey Hollimon So. F Las Vegas, Nev.
15 Peter Jones Fr. D Victoria, B.C.
16 Juan Carillo-Perez So. F San Jose, Calif.
17 Tim Schnider Fr. F Port Angeles
18 Yuki Lavole Fr. D Kona, Hawaii
19 Calvin Aguirre Fr. M/D Las Vegas, Nev.
21 Michael Benito Fr. M San Diego, Calif.
23 Stefanus Brown Fr. M San Diego, Calif.
25 Jesse Salgado Fr. D Port Angeles
2017 schedule
• Non-conference schedule
Aug. 13 at Univ. of Victoria 1 p.m.
Aug. 21 vs. Seattle Stars (at Starfire Field, Tukwila) 8 a.m.
Thu., Aug. 24 vs. Tacoma (at Starfire Field, Tukwila) 6 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 25 vs. Spokane (at Starfire Field, Tukwila) 10 a.m.
Tue., Sept. 5 at Pierce 5:15 p.m.
• Conference schedule
Sat., Sept. 9 at Shoreline 2 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 13 vs. Everett 4 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 16 vs. Skagit Valley 2 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 20 vs. Whatcom 4 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 23 at Edmonds 2:15 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 27 at Shoreline 4:15 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 30 vs. Everett 2 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 4 at Skagit Valley 4:15 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 7 vs. Whatcom 2:15 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 11 at Edmonds 6:15 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 14 vs. Shoreline 2 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 18 at Everett 4:15 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 21 at Skagit Valley 2:15 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 25 vs. Whatcom 4 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 28 vs. Edmonds 2 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 1 NWAC First Round
Sat., Nov. 4 NWAC Quarterfinals
Nov. 10, 12 NWAC Finals at Starfire (Tukwila)
A familiar face is leading the Pirates in 2017, hoping to bring them back to a familiar place atop the NWAC mountain.
First-year head coach Jake Hughes, a former PC player who earned a conference title himself with the 2010 Pirate squad, leads a program looking to reclaim the pre-eminent spot after getting knocked out of the playoffs in the second round to eventual NWAC champ Tacoma.
And while the roster is getting a severe make-over — PC sees just five returning sophomores and one transfer with 17 incoming freshmen — Hughes likes the overall talent level.
“Raw. Very raw (but) this group is very talented all the way through the ranks,” the Peninsula coach says.
Back from last year’s North Division champion squad is division MVP Cesar Gervacio, who led the Pirates and tied for fourth in the NWAC with 13 goals in 2016.
Also back are forwards Juan Carillo-Perez (11 goals) and Joey Hollimon (seven goals, five assists) — both division all-stars — as well as midfielder Sergio Gonzalez Reyes.
Hughes likes what he sees from newcomer Sterling Penniston-John, a 6-foot 1-inch defender from Las Vegas, Nev. “He can be a phenomenal player, he’s big, strong, fast,” Hughes says.
The PC coach also has high praise for Jose Serna, a freshman from Cowiche.
PC looks to a trio of freshmen to replace graduated sophomore Brannon Dwyer (six shutouts, tied for fourth in NWAC).
Building on success
After winning an NWAC title in 2015, the Pirates went undefeated (14-0-1) in division play under second-year coach Cale Rodriguez. But hopes a back-to-back titles were dashed in a penalty kick shootout loss to Tacoma.
Peninsula has won four NWAC titles since 2010; no other school has more than one.
Hughes, who was an assistant with Peninsula the past two seasons, said team chemistry will be key to a solid season in 2017.
“It takes us creating a family and wanting to improve,” Hughes says.
“The quality (of sophomores) is the best and within the freshman ranks we have some (leaders) as well; it’s a combination.”
PC tops Highline in preseason scrimmage
In a battle of defending division champions, Peninsula’s Pirates got a last-second goal to knock off highly-regarded Highline 2-1 in a scrimmage on Aug. 18.
And, thanks to a bit of preseason maintenance, they earned the victory in the first-ever game on Sequim soil.
Sophomore Juan Carrillo-Perez scored both goals, the second coming on a free kick in stoppage time, as PC upended the defending West Division champion Thunderbirds.
The game was hosted at the Albert Haller Playfields in Sequim. The game was scheduled late during an already scheduled maintenance to PC’s Wally Sigmar Field.
“This (field) is short and narrow. It’s a decent field but the ball is a little sticky,” Peninsula head coach Jake Hughes said. “It took us a good 30 to 35 minutes to adjust. We were maybe a little bit nervous.”
After a scoreless first half, Highline’s Ryley Johnson found the net at 65 minutes for a 1-0 advantage.
PC answered about 10 minuets later thanks to Carrillo-Perez.
With time running out, Carrillo-Perez broke away and was fouled just outside the penalty box. He rifled the ensuing free kick past a wall of players and into the right corner of the goal.
“This game was about working out some kinks,” Hughes said. “We’ll use this as a base.”
For starters
The Pirates open the regular season at the 2017 NWAC Friendlies at Starfire in Tukwila. They will take on defending NWAC champion Tacoma at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24. PC’s first home match is Sept. 13 against Everett.
