Wolves roll past Bucs, Redskins

Following their crucial match-up against Port Townsend on Saturday, the Sequim Wolves got a treat from their coach: a meal at Waterfront Pizza.

Earlier in the day, it was the coach getting a treat from his players.

The Wolves (7-2-1 in Olympic League play, 8-3-1 overall) got a first-half goal from Evan Watkins and a second-half score from Daniel Servin to cap a huge week for Sequim, that posted four shutouts in four games and moved into first place in the Olympic League standings as of April 26.

Coach Dave Brasher was impressed with Sequim’s win against the Redskins, particularly coming less than a full day after topping Kingston in a 1-0 thriller Friday night.

"They’re all pretty sore and tired," Brasher said.

No kidding. In Port Townsend, playing in their fourth game in six days, the Wolves got their first score from Watkins, a freshman, when the ball snuck past the P.T. keeper with heavy traffic in front at 19 minutes.

That was the score going into halftime and almost to the end frame until Nick Camporini took a free kick rebound and found Servin for the game-clinching goal and 2-0 victory.

A day earlier, Sequim got its biggest win of the season – and a bit of revenge – in a classic at Sequim’s stadium.

The Wolves and Buccaneers battled each other and a tough wind coming from the northwest for a scoreless first half and another 38 minutes into the second half. With two minutes left, Sequim’s David LaBeaume rocketed a corner kick that nearly found the net but missed the mark, and it looked as if the Wolves, despite out-shooting the Bucs 18-8, might have to settle for a tie. But Brasher had sophomore forward Aldo Garcia try screening the Kingston goalie, and when LaBeaume got a second chance with another corner kick, the distraction paid off. The Kingston keeper couldn’t find the incoming shot and it went in for the game-winner.

Matt Bedinger and the Wolves’ defense earned their third shutout of the week against the Buccaneers and a fourth against Port Townsend a day later.

"Defensively, we’re playing well," Brasher said.

The Wolves picked up a point in the standings with a 0-0 tie against Bremerton on April 20. Sequim not only shut out the Knights but also the league’s leading scorer, Matt Olsen, but even with a 16 to eight shots-on-goal advantage couldn’t find the net.

On April 22, Sequim blanked winless Klahowya 5-0. Servin opened the scoring at 15 minutes with an unassisted goal and Camporini added two second-half scores, one coming on a penalty kick. Kris Lawrence and David Lopes also had scores while Waylon Lam had two assists.

With a shot at the league’s No. 1 seed heading into the district playoffs and a lock on at least the No. 2 berth, Sequim matches up with either Fife or Steilacoom of the Nisqually League come district playoff time.

Games are to be played at Silverdale Stadium on May 16, an artificial surface the Wolves don’t normally see.

Brasher said the surface actually plays right into the Wolves’ collective hands.

"The style we play, we’ll be better on it – we’re not much on the ‘big ball’ stuff," Brasher said.

Sequim was scheduled to host Olympic on April 27 and play at Port Angeles on May 5.

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.

Olympic League standings (as of April 26)

Team Lg. Over. Pts

Sequim 7-2-1 8-3-1 22

North Kitsap 6-0-1 7-2-1 19

Kingston 6-2-0 7-3-0 18

Pt. Townsend 6-3-0 7-4-0 18

Bremerton 2-2-3 3-4-3 9