A slow start, but a happy finish for Pirate fans.

Jonathan Martinez cut through the Skagit defense’s right side and found an open Eddie Benito for the game’s only score in a hard-fought, 1-0 win against Skagit Valley at “Community Day” in Port Angeles on Sept. 19.

Celebrating the local soccer community at PC’s Sigmar Field, Peninsula battles the visiting Cardinals to a scoreless first half before Martinez’s run.

The freshman forward from North Las Vegas created a number of chances, assistant coach Jake Hughes noted, including a shot that rocketed off the cross bar.

Peninsula freshman defender José Soto made a key stop with a slide tackle late in the game to deny Skagit a shot on goal.

“(We) started off slow, but picked up the play toward the end,” Hughes said.

Nick Johnson recorded the shutout, his third in seven starts this season. he needed just one save in the victory.

Topping the Trojans

Earlier in the week, Peninsula’s men wasted little time taking control of their Sept. 16 road matchup at Everett and cruised to a 4-0 victory.

Martinez gave the Pirates a lead just five minutes in when he carried the ball up the left side, beat a defender, cut back into the middle of the penalty box and then knocked down a shot inside the left post for an unassisted score and 1-0 PC lead.

Keo Ponce then picked up Peninsula’s next two goals, scoring in the 20th minute off a corner kick from Santiago Sierra and then again in the 58th minute on an assist from Martinez for Ponce’s fourth score of the campaign. David Joyce rounded out the scoring.

Coming up

Peninsula is back in action Sept. 23 when they host the Whatcom Orcas. The Pirates play at Edmonds on Sept. 26 and are at Shoreline on Sept. 30.

NWAC North Division standings

Team Conf. Pts. Over. GF-A Sh

Peninsula 2-0-1 7 4-1-2 14-6 3

Whatcom 2-0-1 7 3-1-1 11-6 1

Edmonds 1-1-1 4 1-3-2 3-11 1

Shoreline 0-0-3 4 0-0-6 5-5 2

Everett 0-2-1 1 0-4-1 3-13 0

Sk. Valley 0-2-1 1 0-4-1 3-9 0