Sequim Gazette staff
When the Peninsula College men’s and women’s soccer teams begin defense of their 2012 NWAACC titles, they’ll do so under a national spotlight.
The Pirate men (21-1-1 in 2012) are ranked No. 10 while the P.C. women (22-1-0) are ranked No. 12 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Junior College Division I Preseason Ranking, announced Aug. 13.
The Pirates began fall workouts last week in preparation for their season openers, set for Aug. 27-28 at the Starfire Soccer Complex in Tukwila — the same site where they ended the 2012 season hoisting NWAACC championship trophies.
It was the second NWAACC title for the Peninsula men (they won their first in 2010) and the first championship for any women’s sports team in Peninsula College’s history.
The Peninsula men open against Edmonds at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 27 at the NWAACC Friendlies Tournament.
P.C.’s women (2-0) continue their 2013 campaign at the same tournament at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 28 against Everett’s Trinity Lutheran, a National Christian College Athletic Association Division I school.
P.C. women knock off Canadian squads
If last week is any indication, the NWAACC is in trouble.
Peninsula College’s women, the reigning NWAACC champions, opened the 2013-2014 season with a pair of shutout wins against four-year schools Vancouver Island University and University of Victoria.
On Aug. 21, the Pirates blanked Vancouver Island University 3-0, avenging a 4-0 loss to Vancouver Island in 2011.
Two days later, Peninsula routed the University of Victoria squad 2-0, knocking off a squad boasting a Canadian national team player.
“(They are) likely to contend for the national title again this year,” Peninsula coach Kanyon Anderson said of the Canadian team.
“It is the biggest win in the history of our program to date and I would have to schedule and beat a good D1 (Division I team) from the states to top this.”
Last season, the University of Victoria topped P.C. 4-0.
