Fall sports preview: PC women’s soccer
2016 record: 19-1-1 overall, 15-0-0 (first) in North Division; NWAC champions
Head coach: Kanyon Anderson (eighth season)
Top returning players: Akari Hoshino (GK), Tatiana Hagan (M), Emelie Small (D), Kelly Kevershan (F), Malia Brudvik (D), Emilee Greve (M)
2017 schedule
• Non-conference schedule
Tue., Aug. 15 vs. The Evergreen State College (scrimmage) 2 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 19 at University of Victoria (scrimmage) 3 p.m.
Thu., Aug. 24 vs. Clark (at Starfire Field, Tukwila) 10 a.m.
Fri., Aug. 25 vs. Spokane (at Starfire Field, Tukwila) 8 a.m.
Tue., Aug. 29 vs. Tacoma 11 a.m.
Tue., Sept. 5 at Pierce 3 p.m.
• Conference schedule
Sat., Sept. 9 at Shoreline noon
Wed., Sept. 13 vs. Everett 2 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 16 vs. Skagit Valley noon
Wed., Sept. 20 vs. Whatcom 2 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 23 at Edmonds noon
Wed., Sept. 27 at Shoreline 2:15 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 30 vs. Everett noon
Wed., Oct. 4 at Skagit Valley 2 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 7 vs. Whatcom noon
Wed., Oct. 11 at Edmonds 4 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 14 vs. Shoreline noon
Wed., Oct. 18 at Everett 2 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 21 at Skagit Valley noon
Wed., Oct. 25 vs. Whatcom 2 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 28 vs. Edmonds noon
Wed., Nov. 1 NWAC First Round TBD
Sat., Nov. 4 NWAC Quarterfinals TBD
Nov. 10, 12 NWAC Finals at Starfire (Tukwila) TBD
The roster
No. Name Year Pos. Hometown
0 Kassidy Zinda Fr. GK McMinnville, Ore.
1 Akari Hoshino So. GK Adachi, Japan
2 Brianna Duran Fr. M Las Vegas, Nev.
3 Cindy Vasquez Fr. M Leavenworth
4 Shantel Torres-Benito Fr. F Waipahu, Hawaii
5 Yasmin Escobar-Moreno So. M Silverdale
6 Tatiana Hagan So. M Reno, Nev.
7 Jayna Morikawa So. M Mililani, Hawaii
8 Emilee Greve So. M Auburn
9 Sarah Reiber So. M Yakima
10 Kelly Kevershan So. M Tuscon, Ariz.
11 Maddy Parton So. F Leavenworth
12 Malia Brudvik So. D Auburn
13 Erin Vig Fr. D Sequim
14 Taylor Graham Fr. F Kailua, Hawaii
15 Sydney Warren So. F Maple Valley
17 Emelie Small So. D Reno, Nev.
18 Nicolette Paredes Fr. D Tucson,Ariz.
19 Pi’ilani Chaves Fr. D Wailuku, Hawaii
20 Jordyn DiCinto So. F San Diego, Calif.
21 Leslie Gochez Fr. D Reno, Nev.
22 Samantha Guzman So. D Corona, Calif.
23 Halle Watson Fr. D Las Vegas, Nev.
25 Janis Martinez-Ortiz So. M Las Vegas, Nev.
The former high school English teacher can’t help but continue to teach … and he’s learned a bit along the way.
For the rest of the NWAC, the idea that the Peninsula’s women’s soccer program might be getting better must seem a bit improbable, but PC head coach Kanyon Anderson says his Pirates — three-time conference champions, including last year’s crown — are becoming even better students of the sport.
“I’m coaching a lot more,” Anderson says. “I understand the game better than I did eight years ago.”
Since their inaugural season those eight years ago, the Pirates — ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches’ junior college preseason poll — have earned playoff berths each season, won championships in 2012, 2013 and 2016, and added a pair of runner-up finishes.
“In 2011 and 2012, we were pretty direct,” Anderson says. “We’d jack it forward and win enough balls (to net wins).”
Instead of relying on pure physicality, Anderson is aiming to have even more refined, intricate play that the PC coach hopes will help his players be successful at not only the junior college level but beyond.
“We’ve got all the pieces in place,” Anderson says, noting that other than a couple of strong outliers, the talent level across Peninsula’s 2017 roster is even.
Further, Anderson was able to recruit strong freshmen and sophomore transfers who can add those refined skills to their arsenal.
In early-season practices, returning PC sophomores have noticed.
“Since we won last year there’s so much pressure (but) all the freshmen came in know what they’re doing,” sophomore Tatiana Hagan says.
“We’re looking really good,” says Kelly Keversham, a sophomore from Tucson, Ariz., who plays central midfielder for PC. “Even from the first practice, we really meshed.”
“We’re way further than we were last year (at this time),” says Emelie Small, a sophomore defender from Reno, Nev.
She said Peninsula is focusing on rotational movement — movement between small groups of players to advance the ball — this preseason.
“I think we’re all used to playing in patterns,” Small says. “You can’t just be an athletic player.”
Strong on both sides
Peninsula still has plenty of athleticism coming back, Anderson notes. Back on the pitch is Sydney Warren of Maple Valley who tallied 12 goals in 2016, and Maddy Parton of Leavenworth who racked up six scores and nine assists. Anderson also likes what he sees from several incoming freshmen on the front line who will add some scoring to the mix.
Helping move the pace from the central midfielder spot is Hagan, who made a connection with the school in her junior year of high school in Reno, Nev., when her sister Tori joined the Pirates.
“Our sophomores take (the) lead; It was drilled into us what we had to do to start and get minutes,” she says.
The Pirate defense was strong once again in 2016, giving up just six goals in 21 games. Back to defend are Small and Malia Brudvik and goalkeeper Akari Hoshino, who earned nine shutouts to tie for second in the NWAC in 2016.
“She’s the most skillful, refined goalkeeper I’ve ever had,” Anderson says of Hoshino.
“Cohesion is going to be a big part of this team. The sophomore class is real tight. They care about each other.”
Sequim’s all-Olympic League Erin Vig joins the Pirate defense this fall as well.
Anderson says his staff tends to recruit players who tend to be more outdoorsy and may not have to have the excitement of a large city.
“We’re more tight-knit here,” he says. “I can’t tell you how many players say, ‘PC was my best college experience.’ They’re treated well, have good facilities and are held to a high standard.”
Chasing a fourth
The Pirates are chasing a bit of history as they chase down wins: Peninsula last season joined Walla Walla (2009-2011), Clackamas (2004-2005, 2007) and Tacoma (1996-1998) as the only NWAC three-time women’s soccer champs.
“We do talk a little bit about that (with players),” Anderson says. “It’s, ‘Let’s go do something special.’”
While the Pirates are perennial favorites to make the NWAC Final Four — and, arguably, perennial NWAC title favorites — the school’s geographic isolation puts the Pirates a bit under the radar, Anderson says.
His theme this year? Do not get bored with success.
“The options are success and something else,” he says.
The Pirates open non-conference play Aug. 24 against Clark and Aug. 25 against Spokane, with both games at Starfire Field in Tukwila.
