The depth and composition of the Peninsula College women’s soccer roster was on full display in a 3-0 shutout of Edmonds at a sun-splashed Wally Sigmar Field on Monday.
Pirates coach Kanyon Anderson wasn’t convinced health protocols would allow his team to play this school year, so he recruited more players than usual to join a talented group of sophomore returners to provide training opportunities.
“The idea was let’s create the opportunity to play here every day and it worked out,” Anderson said. “You saw the quality of the players coming in (to replace starters) … I thought we organized defensively, I was happy with the shutout aspect and not giving them many opportunities. I thought we created a bunch of really good chances.
“Conversely, I don’t think we finished particularly well, but our creativity and movement were good. Some games you win 3-0 and you didn’t really break the other team’s defense down. This seems like a fair scoreline. Their keeper [Emily Morandi] made some great saves.”
Port Angeles product Kyrsten McGuffey, one of four North Olympic Peninsula products who played in the contest, bagged the first goal 14 minutes into in the Pirates’ (2-0) home opener.
“We had good energy the entire time,” McGuffey said. “ … We have been scrimmaging each other before we started games and that’s really brought us up and brought up our level of play. We can go full 11-on-11 and the competition is so good and that’s why this is such a good program.”
Alysia Alvarado stole an Edmonds pass in the Tritons’ third of the field, found McGuffey on the right side and McGuffey put a good foot on the ball, sending it low to the far post past Morandi.
“That midfield group of Cecilia Jenkins, Grace Johnson of Chimacum and Alysia Alvarado really controlled the game,” Anderson said.
Jenkins assisted on the next PC goal, sending the ball up the left side to returner Miya Clark. Clark sped past the Edmonds defense and poked a goal past Morandi with her right foot to the far right post for a 2-0 lead 26 minutes in.
Morandi kept Edmonds close at halftime with a save on a breakaway by Peninsula’s Alexis Harris in the 43rd, but the Pirates added a quick goal to open the second half and provide more cushion in a game in which the team allowed two Tritons shots.
Clark motored up the left side and looked to be running out of room near the end line before sending in a perfectly placed cross to an on-running Makenna Wilson, who stuck out her right foot for the one-touch volley score.
“I was like, ‘Did you see that finish?’ and Miya had such a good ball in,” McGuffey said of her reaction to the quality goal.
Anderson was pleased with the play of his defenders, headed up by Tommylia Dunbar.
“With all the things that she can do, I feel like we are just scratching the surface on what she is capable of,” Anderson said.
“That was the best we played. It was good to see some of the pieces come together, and now you can begin figuring out some of those combinations. You can start to see that cohesion and think about combinations.”
Game versus Orcas nixed
Peninsula was scheduled to visit Whatcom on Thursday; however, Rick Ross, Peninsula College’s Associate Dean for Athletics & Student Life, noted Wednesday that the game has been cancelled following a string of injuries sustained by Whatcom players.
Danny Day, Director for Athletics & Recreation at Whatcom, noted in an email, “Our women’s soccer team has unfortunately sustained a number of injuries over the course of the season and in particular during this last week. Because of these injuries, our women’s soccer team does not have the ability to compete in a manner consistent with player safety on Thursday. We will need to cancel Thursday’s game. We remain hopeful that enough health will be regained that the team can continue its season as recovery takes place.”
Peninsula is scheduled to be back on the pitch at home against Everett on April 19; game time is 2 p.m.
