PORT ANGELES — Sequim took advantage of set pieces, scoring twice off corner kicks and twice on fast throw-ins as the Wolves captured the Rainshadow Rumble rivalry boys soccer sweep with a 4-0 victory over Port Angeles.
Despite the final score, Tuesday night’s contest at Peninsula College’s Sigmar Field was a much closer affair than the team’s previous matchup, a 5-0 Sequim win March 17.
Sequim scored two late goals in the final five minutes after denying a Roughriders side that regrouped and played a more spirited second half after going to the halftime break down 2-0.
Port Angeles’ Xander Maestas, left, and Sequim’s Aidan Henninger face off for ball control as Sequim’s Harrison Bell looks on during Tuesday’s match at Peninsula College in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
“They were motivated, and for a good 10 to 15 minutes there, they had us on our back heels,” Wolves coach Ken Garling said. “We switched a few players around and formation-wise we switched things around, so we were a little disjointed. Hats off to them for being motivated and taking it to us.
“Once we made a tactical adjustment and switched to the 4-3-2-1, we were able to lock it down.”
Each team had chances in the early going as Brandon Wagner clanged one off the crossbar for Sequim and Josiah Long’s low shot to the near post was swallowed up by Wolves’ goalkeeper Jack Van De Wege.
But defender Ethan Anderson broke through in the 23rd minute after a quick throw-in by Sequim.
“We sent it wide, it got cut back in and Ethan did a nice turn and hook shot on it,” Sequim co-captain Aidan Henninger said.
Sequim had more chances soon after, as Wagner’s point-blank shot was saved by Riders’ goalkeeper Marcus Hogan and Kristian Mingoy’s speedy run ended with a shot wide of the goal.
Wagner found Henninger for the Wolves’ second goal and a 2-0 halftime lead.
“I was late to the corner. I think that’s why no one marked me, so I snuck to the back and waved to Wagner and he put it there and I headed it in,” Henninger said.
Port Angeles’ Kaleb Gagnon, left, takes on Sequim’s Kristian Mingoy on Tuesday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Down two goals at the break, Port Angeles nearly broke through on two Dayton Williams shots.
“Williams had a free kick that hit the crossbar and another hard shot that just whizzed over the crossbar from long range,” Riders coach Chris Saari said. “That’s who we want to be getting the ball to in position to score.”
Saari said defender Zak Alton stood out.
“It was his best game of the season,” Saari said. “He tackled and cleared the ball well and distributed it well when he got it down at his feet.”
And Jacob Miller was busy at midfield for Port Angeles.
“Jacob Miller was active in the midfield for [Port Angeles] and covered a lot of ground defensively,” Saari said. “He also helped the Riders mount several attacks offensively and had a high work rate.”
Sequim found the net twice in quick succession to close out the game.
Brandon Charters sent a right-to-left corner kick into the goal box and defender Tyler Lawson was there to find the net in the 76th.
Sequim’s Ethan Knight, left, tries to keep the ball inbounds as Port Angeles’ Dayton Williams waits to take control on Tuesday at Peninsula College. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
“Set pieces is something we have been working on. These are opportunities for us to score, and the boys responded well,” Garling said. “To be able to mix it up and have different positions score, it shows what we were talking about moving the ball, exploiting the opportunities. If it’s there, kick it and score.”
Lawson’s goal was another in the right-place-at-the-right-time moment for the senior. And he added an assist on a booming shot by Javier Gomez in stoppage time.
“I’ve said it a 100 times, Tyler Lawson knows how to find the ball, he knows where he needs to be and he’s usually on the end of one,” Garling said. “And then he dropped one in on Javier. The kid is the real deal.”
Sequim (5-2, 5-3) hosts cellar-dwellers Olympic (0-6-0, 0-7-1) on Thursday.
Port Angeles (2-6, 3-6) visits North Mason (1-6, 2-6).
Port Angeles’ Kaleb Gagnon, right, tries to keep control past Sequim’s Rafael Flores, center, and Javier Gomez on Tuesday evening in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Sequim’s Kristian Mingoy, left, advances toward the goal as Port Angeles’ Zak Alton, center, and Dominick Fischer, right, defend during Tuesday’s match in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles goalkeeper Marcus Hogan prepares to kick downfield as teammate Eli Fischer looks on in Tuesday’s game against Sequim at Peninsula College in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
