By Oly Archibald
FIFE — In high school sports, there is never any shame in losing to a better team, and that’s what happened to the fifth-ranked Roughriders, who fell 3-2 to the fourth-ranked Fife Trojans, who played up to their ranking.
The Roughriders jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and fought hard all game, but the Trojans controlled possession for much of the match and earned several quality scoring chances.
The Roughriders struck first when Matthew Miller broke loose one-on-one and fired it past the Trojan goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later, at the 29-minute mark, Oliver Martinez found a loose ball in the box and fired it into the net for a 2-0 lead.
The Trojans cut the lead to 2-1 near the end of the first half.
Fife tied the game at the 30-minute mark of the second half and took the lead 3-2 at the 18-minute mark.
Grant Butterworth and Aurelio Wilson Rojero both turned in solid defensive performances.
The Roughriders now face a big game Saturday at North Kitsap against the Steilacoom Sentinels, who are 11-7-1, with the winner advancing to the state tournament.
Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
In baseball action today, the Sequim Wolves, 8-13, travel to Fife to take on Orting, 14-7.
The winner will play Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Foss High School against the loser of the Fife–North Kitsap game, with the winner advancing to state.
The Port Angeles Roughriders, 12-9, also travel to Fife today to take on the 15-7 Steilacoom Sentinels.
The winner will play Saturday at Foss High School at 4:30 p.m. against the loser of the Olympic–Bainbridge game, with that winner advancing to the state tournament.
Both the Sequim and Port Angeles games will be broadcast today on KONP Newsradio, with Oly Archibald and John Hayden calling the play-by-play.
Roughrider Senior Ian Smithson on a KONP Newsradio post game show will take on Steilacoom today in Fife at 6:00
The Roughrider softball team will play in the district tournament today at 4:00 p.m. against the winner of the Orting–Sequim game.