BELFAIR — Port Angeles forward Leah Haworth’s only touch of the ball in the first half turned helped lead the visiting Roughriders to a 2–1 Olympic League girls soccer victory over the North Mason Bulldogs.
The win keeps the Riders’ playoff hopes alive.
Port Angeles (5-9) trails Bremerton (6-7) by a game and a half for the final spot in the Olympic League tournament with less than a week left in the regular season.
Haworth, a freshman JV player brought up to the varsity due to three varsity absences, was sent into the game late in the first half.
After midfielder Maddie Boe crossed the ball from the right, Haworth was able to settle it and place it past the Bulldogs’ goalkeeper.
“All I saw was the net moving and I was really happy,” Haworth said about her first varsity goal.
The Riders went up by two goals in the second half when another Haworth got in the action.
Junior Kate Haworth sent a free kick from 35 yards to the foot of Kylee Jeffers, who redirected the ball into the goal, her fifth of the year.
“It was a beautiful finish,” Port Angeles coach Scott Moseley said.
“Kate had a strong free kick and Kylee made the perfect run and a classy flick for the goal.”
Jeffers’ goal proved to be the game-winner.
North Mason’s dangerous sophomore Tegan Daviscourt notched her 11th goal of the season in the 66th minute, but the Riders held on for their fifth win of the season.
“It was tough at first as we had three players in new positions, but we played better as the game went on,” Moseley said following Monday’s game.
“I was proud of how we battled out the win.”
Moseley named Leah Haworth and Jeffers as offensive players of the game, while Boe and Kate Haworth earned transition players of the game. Defensive honors went to Carly Gouge for her tireless work in the defensive midfield.
Port Angeles hosts undefeated North Kitsap (13-0) on Thursday as the Riders celebrate senior night.
To reach the Olympic League tournament, Port Angeles needs to finish a game ahead of Bremerton because the Knight won both of the meetings between the two teams this.
To do that, the Riders need win their final two games — the Riders finish the season at Sequim (2-11) next Monday — and Bremerton must lose all of its remaining games (a home game against Sequim is sandwiched between road contests at North Kitsap and Olympic).
Volleyball
Bellevue Christian 3, Chimacum 1
CLYDE HILL — The Cowboys fell in four sets to the Vikings 25-14, 25-22, 23-25, 25-13.
“Bellevue Christian kept us moving defensively, but I like that kind of play since it really builds teamwork,” Chimacum coach Sally Dankert said.
“We finished with 83 digs combined and showed great promise on some really long rallies.
“Unfortunately, we just didn’t pull out enough kills.
“It made a difference to have Chelsey Johnson, who separated tendons earlier this season, healthy and playing libero for us.”
Megan Dukek led the Cowboys with 13 assists and contributed 13 digs and three aces.
Olivia Baird led the team with 19 digs and four kills. Audrey Thacker contributed 15 digs, while Kiersten Snyder had 12 digs.
Chimacum hosts Vashon Island on Wednesday.
Girls Diving
PT divers qualify for districts
LAKEWOOD — Rose Ridder, Rachel Ramsey and Keira Matkins became the first Port Townsend girls to perform in an official 11-dive meet at Lakes High School.
Saturday’s meet featured divers from the 4A, 3A and 2A classifications.
Ridder qualified for districts with a score of 239.4 and took 9th in the meet.
Rachel Ramsey received a score of 169.75 and took 25th, while Keira Matkins placed 30th with a score of 141.3.
The girls will have one more chance to compete in a qualifying meet on Tuesday, October 29, at William Shore Memorial Pool in Port Angeles.
Neah Bay nationally ranked
The undefeated Neah Bay football team is ranked 16th in the nation in the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings for 6-, 8- and 9-man football teams.
The Red Devils also are ranked first in class 1B in the state of Washington.
Sequim sets Week 10 game
Sequim will finish its football season with a crossover road game against Foster during the weekend of Nov. 8, athletic director Dave Ditlefsen told the Peninsula Daily News.
The Bulldogs are 2-5 this season (2-3 in the Seamount League).
Sequim and Foster play two games before their crossover matchup.
The Wolves play rival Port Angeles (1-4, 1-6) on Friday and North Mason (3-2, 5-2) on Nov. 1. Both games are at Sequim High School.
Other Olympic League teams that are not in the postseason, such as Port Angeles, also are trying to set up Week 10 crossover games.