The #2 ranked Trojans hosted the #3 ranked Pirates of Peninsula College on Saturday afternoon in what was undoubtedly the most anticipated game of the week in NWAC men's soccer. Both teams attempted to set the tone early with hard physical play with 3 total fouls and two yellow cards assessed in the first 10 minutes. Sophomore goalkeeper for the Trojans Cameron Beardsley who earned NWAC Player of the Week two weeks ago, was tested early, and collected two saves on two well struck shots by Peninsula. However in the 18th minute, the Pirates scored on a strange play where a PC throw-in flicked backward off the head of a PC player to the far post barely catching the inside and then rolling past the end line for a goal.
Trailing by a goal Everett continued to play physically but could not seem to posses the ball long or complete enough passes to assemble a formidable attack on the Pirate defense. In the final 10 minutes of the first half, the Trojans finally made the Peninsula goalkeeper work, getting off three shots on goal but none finding the back of the net. The best opportunity came just before halftime when Owen Padilla sent a great ball into the penalty box, finding Dani Amador who's first shot was deflected by a PC defender, and then a second shot by Dani that was deflected by the goalkeeper and bounced in front of the goal for a moment before finally being collected by the keeper. That ended any chance of a first half equalizer.
In the second half, Peninsula took command with an early goal off of a free kick that was struck very well from just outside the penalty box by Yuya Yamamoto in the 50th minute. Disaster hit for the Trojans 10 minutes later when an apparent foul by an attacking PC player was not called and proceeded to score, building the lead to 3-0.
For the remainder of the match, Everett had a few opportunities to get on the scoreboard, but ultimately failed to get another shot on goal. Everett goalkeeper Cameron Beardsley finished the game with 8 saves while Peninsula goalkeeper Evan Scholes finished the game with 3 saves.
The first loss of the season moves the Trojans to second place in the point standings, now three points behind first place Peninsula and three points ahead of 3rd place Whatcom. The first leg of North Region play is complete with two to go, and EvCC will get a week off before they play rival Edmonds CC next Saturday at Triton Field. The Trojans defeated Edmonds 1-0 in their first matchup back on September 7th.