On the same day they received top accolades from NWAACC coaches, Peninsula’s men earned a hard-fought victory at Highline.

Morgan Lemus broke a scoreless tie in the 73rd minute and Daniel Gonzalez added an insurance score with five minutes remaining to cap a 2-0 win Sept. 19.

P.C.’s Erick Urzua was credited with assists on both scores while Guilherme Avelar and the Peninsula defense recorded the shutout — Peninsula’s sixth of the season, a conference best.

"This win was huge for us because it puts us alone in first place and could make the difference at the end of the season on who wins the West Division," Peninsula coach Andrew Chapman said.

Urzua joins five other teammates with at least three assists on a Peninsula squad that leads the NWAACC in scoring with 34 goals; no other player in the conference has more than three assists.

"(Urzua) holds the ball well and he has a motor on him that doesn’t stop," Chapman said.

The game at Highline featured five yellow cards (three for Peninsula) while officials handed out three red cards, one each to Peninsula and Highline and the third to a Highline coach.

"Anytime you have those caliber players and a game with championship implications, you’re going to have a tough game," Chapman said.

Peninsula added a non-league, 2-0 win against North Idaho Collage on Saturday. 

Henrique Noujeimi broke a scoreless tie with a goal at the 40-minute mark off a feed from Irvin Somera and P.C. got an insurance score with a North Idaho own-goal tally at 78 minutes. 

Angel Guerra earned the shutout in goal for Peninsula with five saves.

Peninsula outshot North Idaho, 17-9.

Peninsula plays another non-conference game at Trinity Lutheran College in Everett on Sept. 26, before hosting Spokane on Saturday, Sept. 29; game time is 2 p.m.

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.