Men’s soccer: Peninsula powers past Everett, Skagit Valley

North Region Standings

Team Conf. Over.

Whatcom 3-0-0 6-0-1

Peninsula 2-0-1 4-1-1

Shoreline 0-1-2 2-2-2

Everett 1-2-0 3-4-2

Skagit Valley 1-2-0 1-4-0

Edmonds 0-2-1 0-4-1

Juan Carrillo-Perez recorded a hat trick to lead the Peninsula College men’s soccer team past Everett 6-1 at Wally Sigmar Field on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

The goals helped the Pirate men bounce back from a frustrating tie against Shoreline last Saturday.

Peninsula felt they needed this win over Everett after they tied with Shoreline 1-1, a game in which the Pirates out-shot the Dolphins 17-7, but couldn’t capitalize.

“Particularly because of the nature of that tie … we didn’t finish. It was important today that we finished,” said coach Jake Hughes.

“I feel like we controlled the ball today. We wanted to be relentless,” Hughes said.

Carrillo-Perez got his first hat trick in his Peninsula career and now has five goals on the season.

“How can I say, it was both amazing and a relief,” said Carrillo-Perez. A relief because the Pirates were able to both dominate in the offensive end and score. Carrillo-Perez credited the team’s ability to maintain possession and “knowing when to attack and creating opportunities” for the win.

With the win, the men pick up their first victory in the North Division. Everett came in to the game undefeated in North Division play and with the leading goal-scorer in the NWAC in Aaron Byrne (six goals in seven games.). Byrne got the Trojans’ sole goal of the game against Peninsula.

Carrillo-Perez started the goal-scoring quickly for the Pirates, getting goals in the fourth and seventh minutes.

The Pirates had a goal taken away in the 39th minute on an offsides, but then picked up that lost goal a minute later when Joey Hollimon scored on a corner play with Adrian Benitez assisting.

Manuel Galiano, who earlier in the match missed a golden opportunity for a goal on a wide-open header, picked up a goal in the second half with an assist from Cesar Gervacio. Benitez scored a goal in the 64th minute and Carrillo-Perez collected his hat trick in the 78th minute on a solo effort.

With his assist, Benitez is leading the NWAC in assists with four.

Cardinal-toppers

Peninsula (2-0-1 in conference play, 4-1-1 overall) added a 3-0 win over Skagit Valley to cap last week’s play. Hollimon had two goals and Gervacio added another while the Pirate defense shut down the visiting Cardinals. Darius Ochoa picked up the win in the net for PC, making three saves.

Peninsula hosts North Region-leading Whatcom on Sept. 20 and plays at Edmonds on Sept. 23.

Peninsulas Michael Benito, left, keeps the ball from Everett’s Sergio Ramirez in the Pirates’ 6-1 win on Sept. 13. Photo courtesy of Peninsula College

Peninsula’s Michael Day, right, breaks through the Everett defense in the Pirates’ 6-1 win Sept. 13 in Port Angeles. Photo courtesy of Peninsula College

Adrian Benitez celebrates a Peninsula goal in a 6-1 win over Everett on Sept. 13. Benitez had a goal and an assist in the win, and now leads the NWAC in assists with four. Photo courtesy of Peninsula College