Sequim took advantage of set pieces, scoring twice off corner kicks and twice on fast throw-ins as the Wolves captured the Rainshadow Rumble rivalry boys soccer sweep with a 4-0 victory over Port Angeles on April 12.
Despite the final score, the contest at Peninsula College’s Sigmar Field was a much closer affair than the team’s previous matchup, a 5-0 Sequim win March 17.
Sequim scored two late goals in the final five minutes after denying a Roughriders side that regrouped and played a more spirited second half after going to the halftime break down 2-0.
“They were motivated and for a good 10-to-15 minutes there they had us on our back heels,” Wolves’ coach Ken Garling said.
“We switched a few players around and formation wise we switched things around, so we were a little disjointed. Hats off to them for being motivated and taking it to us.
“Once we made a tactical adjustment and switched to the 4-3-2-1 we were able to lock it down.”
Each team had chances in the early going as Brandon Wagner clanged one off the crossbar for Sequim and Josiah Long’s low shot to the near post was swallowed up by Wolves’ goalkeeper Jack Van De Wege.
But defender Ethan Anderson broke through in the 23rd minute after a quick throw-in by Sequim.
“We sent it wide, it got cut back in and Ethan did a nice turn and hook shot on it,” Sequim co-captain Aidan Henninger said.
Sequim had more chances soon after, as Wagner’s point-blank shot was saved by Riders’ goalkeeper Marcus Hogan and Kristian Mingoy’s speedy run ended with a shot wide of the goal.
Wagner found Henninger for the Wolves’ second goal and a 2-0 halftime lead.
“I was late to the corner, I think that’s why no one marked me, so I snuck to the back and waved to Wagner and he put it there and I headed it in,” Henninger said.
Down two goals at the break, Port Angeles nearly broke through on two Dayton Williams’ shots.
“Williams had a free kick that hit the crossbar and another hard shot that just whizzed over the crossbar from long range,” Riders coach Chris Saari said. “That’s who we want to be getting the ball to in position to score.”
Sequim found the net twice in quick succession to close out the game.
Brandon Charters sent a right-to-left corner kick into the goal box and defender Tyler Lawson was there to find the net in the 76th.
“Set pieces is something we have been working on, these are opportunities for us to score and the boys responded well,” Garling said.
“To be able to mix it up and have different positions score, it shows what we were talking about moving the ball, exploiting the opportunities, if its there, kick it and score.”
Lawson’s goal was another in the right place at the right time moment for the senior. And he added an assist on a booming shot by Javier Gomez in stoppage time.
“I’ve said it a 100 times, Tyler Lawson knows how to find the ball, he knows where he needs to be and he’s usually on the end of one,” Garling said.
“And then he dropped one in on Javier. The kid is the real deal.”
Sweeping the Trojans
Sequim (6-2 in Olympic League play, 6-3 overall) made it a season sweep of another Olympic League foe, Olympic, with a 5-0 whitewashing at home on April 14.
“We got some kids in who don’t get as many minutes for some playing time and our starters got some rest,” Garling said.
Charters scored off a Wagner assist to get things going in the 12th minute.
Mekhi Ashby came on and scored in the 32nd for a 2-0 halftime lead.
“He hit that from 20-25 yards out,” Garling said. “He saw the opportunity and it was really a beautiful goal.”
Kristian Mingoy followed up a shot for a goal in the 44th minute and Wagner converted a penalty kick for a 4-0 lead in the 62nd minute.
Lawson headed in a goal in the 72nd off a cross by Ethan Anderson.
“[It was a] nice cross came in from the left from Ethan Anderson and Tyler scored another nice header goal, able to redirect it enough to get past the keeper.”
Van de Wege earned his second straight clean sheet in goal.
Coming up
The Wolves were scheduled to play at North Kitsap on April 19; results were not available at press time.
Sequim is at Bainbridge in April 21 and at Kingston on April 23.
The Wolves host Bremerton on April 26 and Kingston on April 28 before finishing the regular season at North Mason on April 30.
Photo by Keith Thorpe/Olympic Peninsula News Group Sequim’s Ethan Knight, left, tries to keep the ball inbounds as Port Angeles’ Dayton Williams waits to take control on April 12 at Peninsula College.
Port Angeles’ Keane McClain, left, and Sequim’s Rafael Flores battle for the ball on March 12 at Peninsula College in Port Angeles. Photo by Keith Thorpe/Olympic Peninsula News Group
