The Vashon High School boys’ soccer team has played four games in recent weeks, winning three and tying one.
In Coupeville on March 29, the team played a game decided by seven penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie in regulation despite the Coupeville keeper getting a red card (for denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity by senior Gabe Reoux). Keeper Brett Beardsley made two key saves to get the 7-6 win.
In Blaine on April 2, they played to an injury – and yellow card-ridden 0-0 draw.
This past week, Vashon had two games, a critical league game against third-place Bellevue Christian and a non-league game Saturday against Port Townsend. Bellevue Christian was the state champion last year and had given up only one goal against league leaders Charles Wright.
Vashon dominated possession, but it was 0-0 at halftime. In the second half, senior Bohdin Mozeleski started the scoring with a neat little tap off his right foot to the left and a hard left-footed shot into the far corner of the net. Junior Clese Christopherson hammered a shot in about five minutes later from the left side of the box. Reoux then played a nearly identical goal to Mozeleski’s — a tap left and drill to far upper corner. Final score 3-0.
This puts Vashon in a firm second-place position in the league, having defeated both rivals below them in the table and licking their chops for a visit later this week from Charles Wright to put the record straight.
Port Townsend visited Vashon last Saturday. The Pirates’ spring break bench had just one sub on a hot day. Vashon threatened often, but the Port Townsend defense was holding until Reoux juked his defender at the top right of the box and sent a cross for Mozeleski, who was standing open at the far post. Only a Port Townsend hand on the ball prevented that, but that was whistled quickly for a penalty, taken by Mozeleski and drilled hard into the right side net.
First-time varsity starter Elliot Eades at center back played a key role in stopping many attacks, with no foot or ball placed wrong. Vashon was repeatedly threatening, sometimes from the right wing, where Anthony Gateman was busy the entire game. Zane Bork caused trouble down the left, muscling players off the ball and getting the ball to some dangerous spots. Ultimately, another attack where Sam Foucault and Ben Gass had been dominant pushed a ball over the back line, and Mozeleski chested it down at the 18. Though the ball bounced high, he got his knee over the top and drilled it into the left netting, putting Vashon ahead 2-0.
Next up was one of a few key away league games against Cascade Christian, 0-2 in the league — played after press time on Monday. The team will play Friday against Seattle Christian, which is 2-2 in league, having suffered a 1-0 loss to Vashon when they visited here. Next week, the Pirates will play twice at home: at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, against Cascade Christian, and at 6 p.m. Friday, April 29, against Charles Wright.
— Greg Martin is the father of two high school athletes.
