Boys soccer: Sequim falls just short of league title

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Sequim’s Wolves had the momentum, the needed tiebreaker and their collective eyes on an Olympic League title.

But Kingston had the proverbial last laugh.

Sequim’s league championship hopes were dashed when the Buccaneers’ Ian Lanfear scored a golden goal in the fourth minute of overtime on April 29.

The Wolves (8-3-0 in league, 9-4-2 overall) can clinch the league’s No. 2 seed to districts this week with a win against Bremerton on April 30 or a North Kitsap loss.

With the Olympic League’s No. 2 seed, the Wolves take on the South Puget Sound League’s No. 8 seed in a loser-out match in Silverdale or Poulsbo on May 5, with the winner taking on the SPSL’s No. 2 seed on May 8.

Sequim had a shot at its first league championship since 2009 with a win in Kingston last week and, after the Bucs scored twice early, looked to have the momentum thanks to two scores from sophomore Ryan Tolberd.

Kingston got a score in the third minute before Liam Harris set up Tolberd on the right side for a score. Kingston got another one at the nine-minute mark for a 2-1 lead before Hayuk Minano set up Tolberd for a header at 22 minutes.

A scoreless second half followed, setting up Lanfear’s score.

“The whole second half we had pressure on for long stretches and couldn’t quite combine to get it done,” Sequim coach Dave Brasher said. “It was intense and pressure packed and we had our chances but they got the winner.

“We had two really good chances (late),” Brasher said. “Ryan Tolberd had one with about two minutes to go. He got a breakaway, beat the keeper but hit the crossbar with his shot. And in overtime Ryan hit a great cross into Hayuk Minano and it went just a little over the top.”

Brasher said Tolberd was the team’s man of the match.

The win locked up the Buccaneers’ seventh league title in 11 seasons.

Sequim handed Kingston its lone league loss of the season, a 2-1 decision on March 27 with goals from Mike McAleer and Evan James.

Wolves rout Riders

Earlier this season, the Port Angeles soccer boys easily handled Sequim, beating them 4-0.

This is an entirely different Sequim team now.

The Wolves jumped all over the Roughriders, getting out to a quick 3-0 lead and going on to win 5-1 in the April 26 match at Civic Field.

The win was Sequim’s sixth straight in league play.

It was also a record-setting match, with Wolves’ forward Liam Harris scoring his 41st career goal, a new record for most goals at Sequim High School.

“The first time we played Port Angeles (a 4-0 Riders win on March 24), it was a big wake-up call,” Brasher said. “You can’t just wander in and play. (That loss) was the impetus for the rest of our season.”

Harris broke the Sequim record early, picking up his 41st goal in the 14th minute, knocking in a corner kick from Hayuk Minano.

“Opening goal in Port Angeles, there’s no better time (to break the record),” Harris said.

Sequim started slowly this season, splitting its first four matches in league before getting hot. Harris said it’s a different team now.

“We’re playing as a team. People were playing as individuals (before),” he said.

The Wolves put constant pressure on the Port Angeles defense early, with Tolberd using his speed to create havoc down the right wing. Tolberd set up numerous scoring opportunities and repeatedly had the Riders defenders on their heels.

Sequim scored its first three goals on set pieces. After Harris’ goal, creating havoc down the right wing, McAleer scored a goal in the 24th minute with an assist to Tolberd.

Tolberd then picked up a goal of his own on a header with the assist going to James in the 26th minute.

Early in the match, Port Angeles had a golden opportunity for a goal, with a long shot by Stuart Methner beating Sequim goalie Liam Stevenson up high. But the ball hit the crossbar and stayed out.

Later in the second half, Methner had another near goal, but his shot went just over the crossbar. This was the kind of night it was for the Riders.

Port Angeles goalkeeper Lorenzo De La Torre kept his team in the match with a leaping one-handed grab of a high shot and another leaping save on a high rocket from Sequim’s Adrian Funston.

The Riders did fight back and got back in the game when they drew a penalty in the box. Ben Schneider kicked in the penalty kick to make it 3-1 in the 68th minute, with time remaining for a Port Angeles comeback.

Sequim quickly squelched any comeback thoughts, however, scoring a goal in the 71st minute from Funston, with an assist to McAleer. The Wolves completed the scoring on a corner from Minano to Mathew Craig in the 76th minute.

Minano ended the match with two assists, while Tolberd had a goal and an assist.

Olympic League standings

(As of April 30)

Team Lg. Over

Kingston 10-1-0 12-3-0

North Kitsap 8-3-0 10-4-0

Sequim 8-3-0 9-4-2

Port Angeles 7-4-0 10-4-1

Bremerton 4-7-0 5-10-0

North Mason 2-9-0 3-9-2

Olympic 0-12-0 0-15-1