The Peninsula College women’s and men’s soccer teams, both ranked No. 1 in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College’s Alaska Airlines Coaches Poll, and both posting wins on Wednesday, Sept. 26, face a showdown with powerhouse Spokane Saturday at Sigmar Field.
The Pirate women, coming off a 3-0 win at Lower Columbia Wednesday, tackle the No. 3-ranked Sasquatch in what promises to be Peninsula’s biggest test of the season.
Spokane (4-0-1, 5-0-2) is led by Lateashea Currie, who in just three matches emerged as the second leading scorer in the NWAACC with eight goals and three assists.
Peninsula (6-0-0, 11-0-0) is led by Briana Afoa (seven goals, one assist) and Rachel Sandoval (six goals, four assists).
The match not only features some of the top individual scorers in the NWAACC, but also pits the top scoring team, Peninsula (64 goals) against the top defensive team, Spokane, a team that has given up only three goals while scoring 23. The Pirate defense has allowed just seven goals in 11 matches.
The Sasquatch women are coming off a 1-1 tie against second-ranked and defending NWAACC champion Walla Walla, while the Pirates stopped unranked Lower Columbia 3-0 Wednesday in Longview.
While the women’s match-up Saturday could very possibly be a preview of the 2012 NWAACC championship, Saturday’s men’s game also matches two strong programs.
The top-ranked Pirate men (3-0-0, 10-1-0) lead the NWAACC in goals scored with 40 and in goals against with only five. The No. 7-ranked Sasquatch, meanwhile, have not lived up to their ranking, going winless in their first three conference matches and sporting a 2-4-1 overall record.
Peninsula’s high-powered and balanced attack is led by Henrique Noujeimi, Daniel Gonzalez and Alex Martinez. The three Pirates are tied for third among the NWAACC’s top scorers. Martinez leads the NWAACC in assists with seven, while Erick Urzua and Yoshi Tamukai are second with five each.
“Saturday’s two matches promise to be very exciting,” athletic director Rick Ross said. “If ever we’ve needed fan support, Saturday is the day, especially for the women’s match.”
