PHOTO: The Roughrider soccer team is 12-7 and just one win away from the state tournament
LAKEWOOD — The Port Angeles soccer team is just one win away from the state tournament after the Roughriders, now 12-7, dominated the Washington Patriots 5-1 last night.
Head coach Chris Saari called it the Roughriders’ best performance of the year. Port Angeles jumped out early with two quick first-half goals. In the 7th minute, Kanyon Anderson found the back of the net off a pass from Matthew Miller. At the 21-minute mark, Anderson returned the favor, setting up Miller on a free kick that deflected in off the far post for a 2-0 lead.
Just after halftime, Miller delivered another perfect pass—this time to Lara Roldan, who buried the shot to make it 3-0. It was an emotional moment for the Roughriders’ bench, as Roldan had missed six weeks of the season with a broken collarbone suffered against East Jefferson.
In the 51st minute, Miller connected with Jacob Weaver on a beautiful cross that Weaver headed in for a 4-1 advantage. Miller capped his stellar night in the 74th minute, scoring on a pass from Oliver Martinez for the final 5-1 score.
The sixth-seeded Roughriders will face No. 4 seed Franklin Pierce in a state-qualifying match Saturday at 11 a.m. at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood. The winner punches a ticket to the state tournament.
Sequim also picked up a win, blanking Bremerton 2-0. The Wolves face Fife at 1 p.m. Saturday in Lakewood, immediately following the Port Angeles match, in a winner-to-state, loser-out contest. Fife is coming off a 2-1 loss to North Kitsap.
—
In a live interview on KONP Newsradio, former Roughrider and Peninsula Pirate basketball standout Millie Long announced she will play her final collegiate season at Fresno State University, a member of the Mountain West Conference. During the broadcast, Long received a surprise call from her new head coach, Ryan McCarthy, which left her visibly emotional and grateful.
Millie Long, live on the Todd Ortloff Show, announced she will play her final collegiate season for the Fresno State Bulldogs.
—
One of the biggest baseball games in Roughrider history is set for Saturday as the No. 7 seed Port Angeles (11-10) meets No. 6 Fife (15-8) in a district semifinal at Central Kitsap High School. First pitch is at 10 a.m.
Port Angeles senior catcher Luke Flodstrom, speaking on the KONP Newsradio postgame show, has his Roughriders just one win away from a state tournament berth
Fife finished third in the South Puget Sound League, behind Orting and Steilacoom—both teams the Riders have beaten in the last three weeks. The Trojans beat Orting 6-5 on Tuesday, split a pair with Steilacoom (7-2 win, 3-1 loss), and edged North Mason 3-2 last week.
Fife is led by senior catcher Carter Christiansen, who’s hitting .500 with 24 hits, 16 runs, 15 RBIs, and eight doubles. Their ace is 6’4” right-hander Evan Reece, who is 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA over nine appearances.
Fife Trojan catcher Carter Christiansen is batting .500 with 15 RBIs, 16 runs scored, and 24 hits.
The winner advances to the district championship at 3 p.m. against the North Kitsap–Bainbridge winner. The loser will play the Olympic–Franklin Pierce winner at 2 p.m. at Olympic High, with the victor of that game moving on to state.
—
On the softball diamond, both Sequim and Port Angeles begin district tournament play today in Lacey, chasing state berths in fastpitch.
Sequim faces No. 5 Fife at 10 a.m.. Olympic League champion Port Angeles, the top seed in the tournament, received a first-round bye and plays the winner of No. 8 Washington vs. No. 9 North Mason at noon.