PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles girls’ soccer team opened its season on a positive note, knocking off the defending Class 2B state champs, Crosspoint, 8-4 at Civic Field.
“Both teams were playing their first game and were looking to see how new players adjusted to their system and how the team chemistry would develop,” Roughriders coach Scott Moseley said of Tuesday’s game.
Port Angeles scored twice in the early going, with goals coming in the fifth minute from Shanzi Cosgrove and the 14th from Emily Boyd.
The Warriors rallied, with Kaitlyn Abrams scoring on a penalty kick in the 36th minute.
Cosgrove notched the second of her three goals two minutes later before Crosspoint’s Kalie Nation closed the gap on a free-kick goal to make it 3-2 at halftime.
“The Riders made a tactical switch in the second half and saw a barrage of five goals before Crosspoint could counter with the final two,” Moseley said.
Boyd tallied her second score of the game, followed by an unassisted goal by junior Taylar Clark.
Emma Smith sent in a 30- yard shot, Cosgrove then earned her hat trick, and CC Robinson finished out the scoring for the Riders.
The Warriors added two more late goals to end the game at 8-4.
“One of the strong points of our team is our mid-field — all goals started with an assist from a midfielder or was scored unassisted by a mid-fielder,” Moseley said.
Senior captain Maddie Boe finished with four assists, Laura Nutter had two and Clark added one assist.
“Although they are a small school team, they had some top-notch players that challenged us to play our best,” Moseley said.
“I suspect they will do well in the postseason again this year.”
Moseley named Cosgrove and Boyd as his offensive players of the match, Boe and Clark as his transition players and Madison St. George for her work in defense.
Port Angeles hosts Port Townsend at 6:45 p.m. tonight at Civic Field.
Volleyball
Chimacum 3, Forks 1
CHIMACUM — The Cowboys edged the Spartans in the nonleague season opener for each team.
“We introduced a couple of new things since it was a nonleague match, and I wasn’t expecting a lot to be honest, but their passing was really good and they played well all around,” Chimacum coach Junior Roberts said of his team.
“Shanya Nesbitt and Taylor Carthum, they really had good service games.
“And overall, I’m really pleased with our progress.”