OLYMPIA – The Peninsula College men’s soccer team went over 40 minutes goalless in the first half against South Puget Sound and trailed the Clippers for much of the first half.
Then the Pirates let all hell loose. In the 41st minute, Nil Grau scored their first goal of the game and tied the game 1-1.
The Pirates then scored seven goals in the second half, with Koya Kimura and Grau each scoring in the first minute of the half. The Pirates also scored three more goals in less than three minutes to complete their 8-1 victory.
The second-half comeback was better than a six-goal half by the Pirates earlier this season. In three games, the first-place Pirates have scored 18 goals and allowed two.
Kimura finished with a hat trick and an assist, while Grau and Ezrah Ochoa each scored two goals.
Grau also had an assist for a total of five points. Pau Vivas had a goal and an assist, and Taro Takemori added an assist.
Peninsula shot on goal 25 times. Pirates goalkeeper Laurin Lettow had to fend off eight shots, but was able to save seven.
Grau now leads the NWAC with five goals and twelve points, while Vivas and Ochoa are in second place with four goals each.
Peninsula (3-0) will next play a scrimmage at Western Washington University on Saturday and may schedule a game in early September, but nothing is finalized yet. The Pirates begin North Region play at Skagit Valley College on Sept. 11.
Women’s football
Meanwhile, the women beat Multnomah University 4-0 in a practice game at Wally Sigmar Field on Tuesday night.
Multnomah is a four-year NAIA school in the same conference as Pacific Lutheran and the University of Puget Sound.
“We played it like a game,” said coach Kanyon Anderson. “We applied good pressure and were well organized defensively.” Anderson said the starters played about 60 minutes and the substitutes about 30 minutes.
The Pirates have a 2-1 record in friendly matches against four-year schools.
The goals were scored by Lauren Lasses, Shawna Larson and Anna Petty in the first half and Lexi Shelton in the second half.
The No. 1-seeded Pirates (2-0) will play another home practice game against Northwest University of Kirkland on Sept. 4 and then begin North Region play in Skagit Valley on Sept. 11.
