BELLEVUE — The Peninsula College women locked up a playoff berth with a 4-1 win at Bellevue this weekend, while the men fell into a tie for second place in the North Region after a 2-0 loss to the Bulldogs.
The women improved their record to 9-0-2. Despite not having a single loss all year at 12-0-2, the Pirates are in second place in the North Region, behind first place Skagit Valley (10-0-1). Peninsula and Skagit Valley tied 0-0 earlier this season and the Pirates get a second crack at Skagit Valley in Mount Vernon on Wednesday. With a win, the women win the North Region. If they lose or tie, the women remain in second place and in the postseason.
Bellevue is in third place and came into the match with a 6-2-2 record.
Shawna Larson scored the only goal of the first half, unassisted in the 21st minute. The Pirates scored quickly in the second half, again with Larson getting the score in the 48th minute, with assists to Taya Bohenko and Emily Eckert.
Bellevue scored just three minutes later to draw within one goal, but the Pirates were able to ice the game away with a goal by Caneel Corpuz in the 67th minute, assisted by Sydney Soskis, and a goal by Sequim’s Hannah Wagner in the 90th minute.
Talia Marini made three saves to earn the victory in goal.
After their loss, the men’s record dropped to 7-3-1 (10-4-1 overall) in the North Region. The men actually have the most wins in the North Region, but because there’s been a rash of ties in the North this season, they are tied with Bellevue (6-1-4) for second place with 22 points. Everett (6-1-5) is leading the North with 23 points. Whatcom (5-2-4, 19 points) is lurking in fourth and still mathematically in the hunt.
Peninsula has still not clinched a playoff spot so it will be highly motivated against Skagit Valley (4-3-4) on Wednesday. Bellevue is playing a weak Edmonds (1-10) team and Whatcom is playing a weak Shoreline (1-10) team on Wednesday, and both teams will likely win.