Sequim Gazette staff

Heading into conference play, Peninsula’s soccer squads are unbeaten — but not untested.

The Pirate crews survived a trip north as they swept the Whatcom Orcas on Sept. 5.

On the women’s side, Peninsula earned its fourth consecutive shutout with a 2-0 win at Whatcom on Sept. 5.

After a scoreless first half, Kai Mahuka took a corner kick from Brittney Yoshimura and headed it in for a 1-0 lead at 63 minutes. The Pirates got some insurance from Larkyn Nelson, who scored on an unassisted goal with about five minutes to play.

Peninsula coach Kanyon Anderson praised his defense and midfield for their play early this season.

“Kameryn Barney and Tori Hagen have been very organized central defenders (and) the outside backs have been just as tough, with Brooke Yoshimura going all 90 minutes, Kai Mahuka getting a game-winning header from defense and Olivia Moore playing a great game despite breaking her nose in the pre-game warm-up — talk about a tough kid.”

Manaia Siania-Unatoa got the shutout making just one save.

“We continue to defend and possess the ball very well,” Anderson said. “The offensive creativity is still lacking a bit but that will come with time as players get more comfortable with each other.”

Peninsula also beat Green River 3-0 in Kent on Sept. 2.

Paxton Rodocker opened the scoring at 32 minutes with a score off an Alyssa Bertuleit feed. Bertuleit got a score of her own just four minutes later of a Tasha Inong assist, helping P.C. to a 2-0 halftime lead.

Bertuleit aided in the final score of the game, setting up Paige Mahuka for a goal with eight minutes to play.

Pirate keeper Kassie Lough recorded the shutout.

Men edge Orcas, 1-0

In what Anderson describes as a “physical and edgy game,” Peninsula’s men topped Whatcom 1-0 thanks to a stellar individual play from Eddie Benito in just the fourth minute.

The freshman midfielder blocked a pass from a Whatcom defender, flicked the loose ball over another and finally lobbed a volley over the Orca goalkeeper.

Whatcom created a few good chances off of set pieces, Anderson said, and Peninsula hit the crossbar once.

“In the end it was a game of big tackles, lots of frustration on both sides and good defending by both teams,” Anderson said. “At halftime we talked about getting back to playing a free-flowing style with fewer fouls and more maturity.

“It was better in the second half until Whatcom really brought the intensity up and then the game was disjointed.”

Pirate Julio Soto earned his first collegiate shutout.

“I told the men that as the defending champs we were going to get everyone’s best effort this season and Whatcom did just that,” Anderson said. “We need to do a better job of accepting that challenge and not letting it disrupt what we want to do. I think this game helped the team mature.”

Looking ahead

The Pirates were slated to kick off their conference schedule on Sept. 9 – results of the game were not available at press time.

Peninsula hosts Shoreline on Sept. 13 and play at Everett on Sept. 17.