Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

One of these teams, Andrew Chapman told his players before the opening whistle last Wednesday, is going to be sitting at home and watching updates of the playoffs from a computer.

The other team would be playing in those same playoffs.

"Which team do you want to be?" he asked rhetorically.

The Pirates responded with their feet, scoring three second-half goals in a 4-0 win against Tacoma on Oct. 15, then traveled to and shut out the Edmonds Tritons three days later on the road.

The wins move Peninsula closer to the NWAACC West's third and final NWAACC playoff spot.

The win against Tacoma was particularly big, considering Tacoma was one point behind in the standings prior to the match-up in Port Angeles.

Despite dominating ball possession early, Peninsula wasn't able to break through the Titans' defense until Buck Kunz found Ryan Muyskens for a score 33 minutes in.

Up 1-0 at halftime, the Pirates poured it on in the second frame. Ernest Boham added to his school record for career goals with his team-leading fifth score of the season off an assist from Teagan Cambier.

Boham set up teammate Cory Matthews two minutes later, Matthews' second goal of the season, to put the Pirates up 3-0.

Jay Kang, a Port Angeles High grad, added the finishing touch with

a goal at 76 minutes, thanks to a Bryan

Restropo feed.

Peninsula keeper Jase Hall recorded the shutout.

On Oct. 18, the Pirates had trouble breaking through early but eventually wore Edmonds down, scoring three second-half goals.

Two minutes into the second half, Tacoma fouled Boham in the penalty box, and Cambier converted the penalty kick. Nine minutes after that, P.C. defenseman Sean Gaskins redirected Cody Sloan's corner kick for a score.

With five minutes left, Omar Anderson added some insurance with his fourth goal of the season.

Peninsula out-shot Edmonds 14-13.

Alec Risk recorded his third shutout of the season. It was Peninsula's sixth shutout of 2008, second in the conference only to Walla Walla (nine).

Peninsula hasn't lost since Sept. 18, when they fell 3-1 to Bellevue. Since then, the Pirates are 4-0-2, out-scoring opponents 20-4.

Peninsula has a chance at redemption against the same Bellevue Bulldogs (11-0-2) when the two teams meet Oct. 22 in Port Angeles. After that, Peninsula travels to Everett on Oct. 25 and Olympic (Bremerton) on Oct. 29.



NWAACC West standings

Team Conf. Over.

Highline 11-0-3 11-1-3

Bellevue 11-0-2 11-0-2

Peninsula 6-3-3 6-5-3

Tacoma 5-6-3 5-6-3

Olympic 0-11-1 0-11-1