By Eric Trent
Peninsula capitalized with quick goals in both halves, and utilized stingy defensive pressure to fend off Shoreline 2-0, Saturday at Sigmar Field.
The Pirate men improve to 7-1-2 in league play and hold onto first place in the North Division.
Eddie Benito headed a shot in off of a pass from Joe Sorenson to put the Pirates on top 1-0, less than 5 minutes in.
“I played it out wide to Joe on the left, then he crossed it and I just saw the ball in the air, and Shoreline was flat-footed. So, I thought I could beat them on the sprint to first post, and I hit it in the back of the net,” Benito said.
Fourteen seconds after the break, Jonathan Martinez took a pass from Jonathan Vasquez and rocketed a goal in from the left wing.
“It was a great pass from Johnny. I love those plays when it’s just 1v1, because I find it easy to take the play on. I had a feeling that one was going to go in,” Martinez said.
Peninsula thwarted Shoreline defensively, giving up only 4 shots on goal the entire game, allowing keeper Nick Johnson to register his NWAC-leading 8th shutout.
“It feels really good, because it means we have a great group of guys in front of me. Shutouts are a team affair, and we as a whole, have been
doing great defensively,” Johnson said. “I think, when we’re shutting teams out, easier said than done, we’re giving ourselves and opportunity to win games, and that’s the expectation, always,” Pi-
rates Head Coach Cale Rodriguez said. “I think two great goals was probably the deciding factor,” he said.
“I appreciate the fact that the guys managed the game well, kept the shot out. I think, overall, we were organized defensively, for the most part, and got two goals at two important times,” he said.
“My expectations are to be strong defensively, and to try and limit opportuni- ties for the opposition. I think the guys held each other accountable, in that regard,” he said.
