Sequim stymied the Port Angeles attack, earning a 1-0 upset of its rival in a Rainshadow Rumble boys soccer match on April 18.
The win knotted the season series at one win apiece — Port Angeles took the first meeting 1-0 at Civic Field on March 16.
“I was happy for the boys to get the win, especially versus an opponent like Port Angeles,” Sequim coach Juan Carlos Cisneros said.
“The boys felt they could have earned a victory when we first met at Civic Field. Our defending again proved to be key in getting the victory, we neutralized their scoring opportunities specially with their free kicks into the area,” Cisneros said.
“Our guys are playing hard and contributing in both team functions.”
Sequim’s goal came late in the first half on a Port Angeles own goal off of a corner kick. A near post corner kick found its way over the goal line after it was mishandled by Rider goalkeeper Marcus Hogan,
Port Angeles coach Chris Saari said the Riders had the better of the chances in the first half but couldn’t connect on a few headers and hit their shots directly at the Sequim goalkeeper Nolan Valenzuela.
The Riders were missing three starters to injuries, and lost left back Eli Fischer early in the game with a thigh contusion, Saari said.
“The Riders battled hard in the second half and threw an extra man forward late in the game to try and equalize the score,” he said.
The Wolves’ defense held strong, however, and got the shutout.
Sequim tops Trojans on road
Josh Alcaraz assisted on the Wolves’ initial goal by Keaton King and sent in the game-winning free kick in the second half as Sequim (4-6) won its third straight game, a 2-1 win at Olympic on April 20.
“Two nice goals,” Cisneros said.
King connected on a shot outside the half moon of the penalty kick box off an assist from Alcaraz, the Sequim coach noted, and, in the second half, Alcaraz doubled Sequim’s score off a free kick outside right side of the box.
“The boys are improving,” Cisneros said. “We spoke pregame about creating more scoring opportunities, taking more shots from distance and getting a set piece goal. We were able to do all those things and came out on top.”
Looking ahead
Sequim was slated to host North Kitsap on April 25; results were not available at press time.
The Wolves host Bainbridge on April 27 and play at Bremerton on May 2.
Sequim finishes the regular season with a May 4 home match-up with Kingston.
Sequim Gazette photos by Michael Dashiell Sequim’s Jack Henninger, left, clears the ball from SHS territory as Port Angeles’ Matthew Miller pursues the play in an April 18 league match. Sequim won, 1-0.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Sam Stewart, left, and Port Angeles’ Matthew Miller vie for the ball in an April 18 Olympic League game.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / As Port Angeles’ Keane McClain (6) and David “Hannes” Spieker (9) look on, Sequim’s Mekhi Ashby looks for an open teammate in the first half of SHS’s 1-0 win over the Roughriders on April 18.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / As Port Angeles’ Keane McClain (6) and David “Hannes” Spieker (9) look on, Sequim’s Mekhi Ashby looks for an open teammate in the first half of SHS’s 1-0 win over the Roughriders on April 18.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Port Angeles’ Kaleb Gagnon, left, looks to put a shot on goal in an April 18 game in Sequim, as Wolves (from left) Jack Henninger (24), Sam Stewart (15), Colin Feik (7) and Evan Cisneros (14) defend the play.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Jack Henninger, left, and Port Angeles’ Matthew Miller vie for the ball in an April 18 league match.
