The Vashon Island High School soccer team started out its 2016-17 season with a strong and convincing win against the Crosspoint Warriors on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

As the game started, it was clear that the Pirates were going to dominate. Despite having almost all of the possession, the Pirates didn’t record a goal until the 16th minute. A wonderful, over-the-top ball played by Anna Riggs was placed superbly into the back corner by Pirate striker Dalia Aladin. Excited by finally being in the lead, the Pirates kept the Crosspoint goalkeeper busy, forcing her to work to keep her team in the game.

A close repeat of the first goal by Jordan Bezoenik had the Pirate fans on the edge of their seats. Mira Peterson created a lot of chances for the team with her devastating through balls to the strikers, who just couldn’t manage to capitalize. The second goal came 20 minutes after the first one, slotted across the face of the goal by Aladin and finished by Bailey Ormsby. The Pirates were up 2-0 at half-time.

The second half started off even better for the Pirates, who scored a goal even faster this time. Madison Browne played a ball through to Aladin, who showed a stunning display of skill and composure to dance through three players and place the ball in the back of the net. Ormsby scored another goal quickly after that off an expertly placed ball across the face of the goal by Aimee Olson.

With the Pirate goalkeeper having done almost nothing in the back, Coach Alan Zoltie decided to sub Aladin into the goal for Sydney Adams. Only a couple minutes after this keeper change, there was a very controversial decision for a penalty kick for Crosspoint. Aladin, willing to play any position but not being a normal goalkeeper, could not save the penalty kick, and the Warriors pulled one back. Not disheartened, the Pirates responded quickly. Adams was determined to show off her skills and rapidly made a difference in the game. A Crosspoint goal kick landed right at Adams’ feet, and she quickly punished them for their mistake by finishing the goal to give the Pirates a 5-1 lead. Adams was not finished with her contribution for the day and went on to quickly score another goal off of a perfectly placed through ball from Emily Levin.

Finally, the last goal of the game came from an assist by Lauren Jenks when she played a beautiful through ball to Adams, who slotted it past the oncoming goalie. Overall, it was a great first game, and every player made a difference. The work of Anna Riggs, Grace Riggs and Lizzy Sutherland in the defense kept Crosspoint off of Vashon’s side for most of the game.

The outstanding runs in the midfield by Emme Osborne, Maria Gilmour and Emily Serebryakov changed the dynamic of the game. In all there were two goals for Aladin, two goals for Ormsby — who just returned from an injury that had her out — for a year, three goals in just six minutes for Adams and seven goals for the Pirates.

The JV High School girls soccer team didn’t fare as well in their game against Fife on Friday, Sept. 9. They suffered a 7-0 away loss. The Pirates were never really able to get their heads in the game. The real tragedy came in the first half when Ava Bostock suffered a bad break to her arm. Filled with worry for their teammate, the Pirates could not focus, and Fife came away with the win. The Pirates kept their heads up though and will go into the next game wanting to win big.

— Paris Crispin is a member of the varsity soccer team, currently on the injured list.