North Division standings

Team Conf. Over.

Peninsula 12-0-1 14-0-2

Whatcom 8-3-2 9-4-2

Edmonds 7-4-2 10-5-2

Sk. Valley 4-8-1 6-8-1

Shoreline 4-9-0 5-10-0

Everett 1-12-0 2-12-2

Peninsula and Skagit Valley both share a league name in common, but the Pirates were anything but in a sharing mood Saturday.

The Peninsula College men joined the Pirate women as Northwest Athletic Conference North Division soccer champs, following a 3-0 win over Skagit Valley on Oct. 22.

The Pirates clinched the victory on Skagit’s Wally Sigmar Field — Peninsula College’s field is named the same, after the NWAC Hall of Fame soccer coach and player at Skagit Valley who later served as Peninsula College President.

Freshman Cesar Gervacio scored in the 13th minute to put his Pirates out in front and then added a goal 17 minutes into the second half to provide his mates some insurance, assisted by Jose Soto. Gervacio’s 13 goals put him fourth among NWAC scoring leaders.

Alex Ramos picked up his fourth goal of the season just five minutes after that, assisted by Michael Day.

Freshman keeper Brannon Dwyer collected his fifth save, fifth in the NWAC.

The league title was the eighth straight for the Pirate men, who are ranked No. 1 in the NWAC and No. 9 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association Junior College Division I Poll.

“I think what the group has accomplished this year, in terms of winning the division, can easily go unnoticed because of the history and success of the program,” Rodriguez said. “But I think certainly the division title was well earned. The boys have worked extremely hard to put themselves in this position.”

PC tops Trojans

Peninsula made quick work of Everett on Oct. 19, getting scores from four different players in a 5-0 road victory.

Gervacio blasted a shot that just missed the top crossbar soon after the opening whistle, but he was right back in position to score only a minute later, assisted by Miguel Valderrama.

Peninsula got goals from Saul Araiza in the 21st minute, from Kevin Medina in the 59th minute, and then back-to-back goals by Soto in the 75th and 79th minutes. Medina had two assists.

Dwyer recorded his fourth shutout.

“I think this group is still hungry to get better,” Rodriguez said. “Nothing changed on our end about how we will approach the remaining games of division play. We want to go out and perform at a high level and play good soccer. At the same time, we’ve put ourselves in a position to be able to utilize the depth we have and rest players who will need it.”

Looking ahead

Peninsula is back on the road at Whatcom on Oct. 26.

Peninsula finishes the regular season Oct. 29 at home against Edmonds.

The NWAC tournament begins Nov. 2 with pigtail games, followed by quarterfinal games Nov. 5. Peninsula will play playing the winner of a match that will likely feature Tacoma against either North Idaho or Walla Walla. That match follows the Peninsula women’s match that begins at noon.

The Final Four is set for Nov. 11-13 at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.