NWAC Final Four

When: Nov. 14-15

Where: Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila

Teams: Peninsula, Chemeketa, Spokane, Tacoma

Schedule: Nov. 14 — 3:30 p.m., Tacoma vs. Spokane; 6 p.m. Chemeketa vs. Peninsula. Nov. 15 — 5:30 p.m., championship

On the web: www.nwacsports.org/soccer/championship.php

They’re back.

After a brief (one season) departure, the Peninsula College men’s soccer squad is returning to the NWAC Final Four and seeking its fourth conference championship in six seasons.

Peninsula punched its ticket Saturday after a 1-0 win against Walla Walla, getting the game-winning goal on a set piece from sophomore midfielder Trevan Estrellado.

“We knew coming in it was going to be a tough game,” Peninsula coach Cale Rodriguez said. “In the playoffs, you have tough games and you have to grind it out. It took a special goal (to end it).”

Both teams had solid chances in the first half on a wet and windy Saturday at PC’s Wally Sigmar field, but Peninsula keeper Nick Johnson and Warrior counterpart Francisco Flores helped keep the game knotted at 0-0 for one half.

“We got off to a good start but they probably had the better of the first half,” Rodriguez said. “They (Walla Walla) didn’t have clear chances. The back line and Nick were fantastic the entire game.”

Estrellado put the Pirates on top with a rifling shot to the far post past Flores and the Peninsula defense held tight for the single-score victory.

Both teams battles wet, windy conditions.

“I try not to think about the weather too much (but) the weather plays a role,” Rodriguez said. “Our guys battled. Both teams battled.”

In their only meeting this year, the Pirates and Warriors played to a scoreless tie in both teams’ season opener back on Aug. 29 in Springfield, Ore.

The Pirates move on to challenge Chemeketa, who edged Highline Saturday on penalty kicks (5-4).

The teams face off at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila at 6 p.m. on Nov. 14.

The winner of that match gets the winner of a Spokane-Tacoma match for the NWAC championship at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 15, also at Starfire.

Peninsula won titles in 2010, 2012 and 2013, all under the tutelage of head coach Andrew Chapman.

The Pirates qualified for the postseason in 2014 but fell to North Idaho in the quarterfinals.

In the first year under coach Rodriguez, Peninsula won the North Division with an 11-2-2 conference record and is now 14-3-3 overall.

It was the seventh straight division championship for the PC men.

“Getting through the North (division) was difficult; I think we’re battle-tested,” Rodriguez said.

“I knew expectations were high and I knew we had the players to get there (to the NWAC Final Four,” he said. “We just want to put ourselves in a position to be successful.”