The numbers of the scoreboard declared a tie, but it was hard to see anything but defeat on the Pirates’ faces.
Just seconds away from a 1-0 shutout win in their season opener on Sept. 9, Peninsula defenders were whistled for a foul and the resulting penalty kick helped Columbia Basin escape with a 1-1 draw.
"We’re not quite happy about (the end)," said Peninsula coach Andrew Chapman moments after the call and the game’s final whistle. "I didn’t like the composure at the end."
Peninsula dominated the majority of last Wednesday’s 92 minutes, collecting a number of free kick shots-on-goal and corner kicks. But shots on goal by Pirates Omar Anderson, John Troka and Cory Matthews found either a Hawk defender’s foot or missed the Columbia Basin net by a few feet.
Matthews finally ended the scoring drought when he took a pass from Troka and slammed a shot into the upper right corner past Hawks keeper Abel Bautista with about 10 minutes left.
It looked as if the Pirates were well on their way to a season-opening win, but Columbia Basin kept on the attack, blitzing Pirate keeper Jase Hall (six saves) late. Despite their coach’s objections, Peninsula defenders opted to send long, clearing shots rather than work for possession to drain the clock of time.
The strategy failed: More than a minute into injury time, with a crowd of players in Peninsula’s penalty box, a whistle sounded, drawing the ire of Chapman and the Pirate faithful.
Columbia Basin’s Eduardo Arzate converted the opportunity.
"We did a good job for 92 minutes," Chapman said. "Columbia Basin is all right (but) we should have won the game."
Peninsula out-shot Columbia Basin 15-8.
The Pirates looked to rebound from the loss with a road game at Treasure Valley on Saturday – their second consecutive game against an NWAACC East division opponent – but came up short in a 1-0 loss.
Despite out-shooting the Chukars 12-6 and hitting the crossbar twice, Peninsula failed to score for the first time in any preseason or regular season contest.
Alan Bosio scored early in the second half off an assist from Gustavo Sanchez while Treasure Valley keeper Kody Hundersmarck kept out any P.C. shots that weren’t hitting the goal supports.
Peninsula’s Brent Ricigliano and Mike Avey picked up yellow cards; three Treasure Valley players earned yellow cards.
Pirates go 2-2
in Ireland tour
The Peninsula men got a taste of what the sport of football looks like in other parts of the world, going 2-2 in four international matches and experiencing Irish culture in a weeklong trip to Ireland.
"Friday (Sept. 4) we had a great time, seeing a big castle, meeting and training with high level coaches and learning about a soccer degree program at Carlow," Chapman said.
His team then played a match against Arklow Town Football Club and suffered a 1-0 loss on a goal that came with three minutes remaining.
"It was a great game and
we finally got to play on a grass pitch plus a pitch that was big – something we have not seen in a week," Chapman said.
The Pirates took on Trinity University on Saturday, Sept. 5, and this one got away from the P.C. men. The hosts led 2-1 at halftime but put it away in the second half with five more goals in a 6-2 decision. Peninsula’s two goals came from Bobby Catania (on an assist from Matthews) and from Carl Determeyer on a penalty kick.
Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.
