Boys soccer: Sequim roughs up Riders in Rainshadow Rumble

Sequim made quick work of rival Port Angeles in the first installment of the boys soccer edition of the Rainshadow Rumble at home on March 17, scoring two quick goals in the first 10 minutes en route to a 5-0 victory.

“It’s all about momentum and we started out on the front foot and we were definitely able to get off to a good start,” Wolves coach Ken Garling said.

Brandon Wagner converted a fifth-minute penalty kick to get the ball rolling for Sequim.

“Kristian Mingoy was strong in the box and holding up the ball and he earned the PK and off we went from there,” Garling said.

Rafael Flores added a goal four minutes later.

“Mingoy was coming off the left side of the box and Kristian put a good ball out in front of him and Rafa was able to finish nicely,” Garling said.

“Once we got the 1-2 going it was a matter of basically keeping possession. They started chasing us but we were doing a good job of moving the ball around through the back line and the middle of the field.”

A three-goal spree just before halftime sealed the contest.

Ethan Knight scored the first of his two goals in the 32nd minute on what Garling described as “a rocket of a shot.”

Tyler Lawson sniffed out Sequim’s fourth goal in the 36th minute.

“Tyler scored on a follow-up shot,” Garling said. “He really has a nose for the goal and he was right there to scoop it up and put it in net.”

Knight added the fifth Wolves’ goal in the 38th.

“A nice run from the right side, the PA keeper came out and he was able to slot it past them,” Garling said.

Sequim added a 4-0 road win at Olympic on March 23; details were not available at press time.

Beating the Bulldogs

After 125 minutes without a goal — the Wolves opened the season with a 2-0 loss at 3A Central Kitsap on March 12 — Sequim not only finally broke through for a score, they went on to roll to a 4-0 win over North Mason to begin 1-0 in Olympic 2A League play.

“In the first half, we had quite a few chances. We had five shots on goal that just missed. We just couldn’t score,” Garling said.

Knight got the Wolves’ first goal of the season in the 45th minute with what Garling described as a “rocket” from 20 yards out just outside the box; the assist went to Mingoy.

The Wolves got a flurry of goals later in the half, all unassisted. In the 60th minute, the Wolves had two shots that went off the post, then Wagner go a hold of a rebound and put the ball in to make it 2-0.

In the 65th minute, Flores had an unassisted goal. Then in the 69th minute, Ethan Anderson also got a rebound off a shot that banged off the post to finish the scoring at 4-0.

“It was good to finally get that going,” Garling said.

Keeper Jack Van de Wege gets credit for the shutout. Garling said the Wolves’ defense played very well and he gave credit to Simon Hare for standing out in the defensive backfield.

Coming up

Sequim hosts North Kitsap on March 24 in a key Olympic League match-up.

The Wolves then play at 1A Klahowya on March 29 and host 3A Bainbridge on March 29.

Sequim’s Cristian Gonzalez, left, vies for the ball in the first half of a 4-0 Sequim home win on March 15. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim’s Cristian Gonzalez, left, keeps possession from Port Angeles’ Damon Gunderson as the Wolves blank the visiting Roughriders 5-0 in March 17. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen

Sequim’s Brandon Wagner, right, keeps possession from Port Angeles’ Damon Gunderson as the Wolves blank the visiting Roughriders 5-0 in March 17. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen