The Peninsula College men’s soccer team is entering a pivotal season, one that will test its depth and resilience after a wave of departures. Eleven sophomores have graduated, and several standout players have moved on to four‑year institutions or professional leagues, leaving a significant void in the lineup.
New Roster, New Ambitions
Coach Jake Hughes remains confident that the returning midfielders — Max Pieper, Sohta Takemura and Clemens Bordewieck — will provide the leadership and character needed to fill the gaps left by departed stars. Their experience, combined with the arrival of international goalkeepers Shojiro Takahashi from Japan, Maximillien Cambier from Sweden and Axel Surget from France, should stabilize a position that lost Max Woithe to professional contracts.
Adding to the mix, local defender Colin Feik is set to return after recovering from a leg injury, offering familiarity and defensive solidity that could prove decisive in tight matches.
Despite the turnover, the Pirates enter the preseason ranked third in the NWAC poll with 105 points, trailing only Highline (150) and Columbia Basin (120). The coaching staff views the North Region championship as the primary target, with a long‑term goal of returning to the NWAC finals.
Schedule and Key Matchups
The upcoming slate includes contests against the University of Puget Sound, Walla Walla, Wenatchee Valley and Bellevue, where teammate Matthew Miller will face his former club. Each game will serve as a litmus test for how quickly the new unit can gel and whether the Pirates can translate early momentum into a championship run.