PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College men’s soccer team finished the regular season unbeaten, but it came within a whisker of losing its first game of the year Saturday as goalkeeper Laurin Lettow preserved a 1-1 tie late.
The draw with Shorelines left the Pirates with a regular-season record of 12-0-2. The Pirates had already wrapped up the North Region championship and a first-round NWAC playoff bye, so this game was essentially a tune-up and a chance for the sophomores to play one last regular-season game at home.
The Pirates men’s and women’s teams will host NWAC quarterfinal games at Wally Sigmar Field on Nov. 9.
On Saturday, the men got off to a good start, getting a goal from Pau Vivas in the 23rd minute with the assist going to Ezrah Ochoa. Later in the first half, the Pirates missed an opportunity to open up a two-goal lead when they missed a penalty kick.
The score remained tied until the 55th minute when Shoreline broke through with a penalty kick for a goal to make it 1-1.
Peninsula appeared to take a lead in the 62nd minute when a ball went in on a free kick, but the referees ruled it was a hand ball and took the goal off the scoreboard.
The Dolphins had two golden chances for late go-ahead goal. On a hard shot from inside the penalty area, Lettow made a spectacular diving save to knock the ball wide. Moments later in the 80th minute, Lettow got a piece of another point-black hard shot off a corner kick to keep it out. On the following corner kick, the Dolphins had Lettow down on the ground, but Pirates midfielder Koya Kimura stopped the ball as it was bouncing toward the goal mouth and got it out of trouble.
The Pirates had one last shot on a corner kick in stoppage time, but couldn’t get a hard shot off.
It was a chippy game with a total of seven yellow cards and a team red card on Shoreline.
There was no women’s game as Shoreline was not able to field a women’s team this season.
Though he didn’t tally any points, the Pirates’ Nil Grau ended up leading the NWAC in both goals (17) and points (45). Though the women only played 12 games, the Pirates’ Shawna Larson led the NWAC in goals (13), assists (8) and points (34).
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Peninsula’s Caleb Rolo, center, makes a sliding tackle on Shoreline’s Hamza Askour as teammate Konrad Muller looks on during Saturday’s match in Port Angeles.
Laurin Lettow makes a diving save against Shoreline to preserve the Pirates 1-1 tie. (Jay Cline/Peninsula College)
