By ALAN ZOLTIE
For The Beachcomber
The Pirates kicked off their regular season Tuesday, Sept. 21, with an away league game at their greatest rival: Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma.
On a spectacular sunny afternoon, Vashon was soon one goal up when Katherine Andrus bundled in a rebound from a Maren Fremstad shot. It was no more than the Pirates deserved at that point, but CW was soon back in it, and within five minutes, they had equalized after some indecisive defense left the Pirates exposed. The game was tied 1-1.
That was how the first half ended, and although Vashon was ahead physically and with possession in their favor, they just couldn’t put the ball in the CW net.
With the second half only three minutes underway, Fremstad broke through the CW defense, and with a thunderous strike, Vashon was again in the lead. Madison Browne then hit the post twice, with two incredible shots from outside the 18-yard box, but CW wasn’t done, and with 10 minutes left to play they scored two quick goals to take the win.
Coach Karen Olsen was left to rue the Pirates lack of finishing in a game they should have won comfortably.
On Thursday, Vashon traveled to Silverdale Stadium in Bremerton to take on the reigning state champs: the Klahowya Secondary School Eagles. With a swirling, gusty wind blowing off the sound, the Eagles were soon in front, scoring two goals in the first five minutes. Unphased, Vashon never surrendered, and the Pirates’ Browne grabbed one back by scoring directly from a corner kick. The game was shaping up to be a real battle with Vashon giving as good as they were taking, and even though Klahowya scored two more goals to lead 4-1, Vashon came powering back into the game after Fremstad scored a peach of a goal with another of her thunderous shots from just inside the 18-yard area. A second Pirates’ score came from a Bailey Ormsby corner kick, when one of the Klahowya players deflected the ball into their own goal. It was now 4-3, and the game was on.
Fremstad had the opportunity to tie up the game just before halftime, but a great save from the Eagles’ keeper kept out what was sure to be a certain goal during one of Fremstad’s trademark power runs.
The second half was a tight affair for the first 20 minutes, with Fremstad again having two great opportunities to score, both of which she blasted over the bar. Vashon’s Emily Serebryakova was outstanding, running the midfield for the Pirates, and Camille DeGuzman was welcomed back after two weeks out due to injury. Vashon was at full strength as they pulverized a shaky Klahowya defense, but it wasn’t meant to be. As Vashon tired, the reigning state champs took control and scored three more toward the end of the second half to secure a 6-3 victory in what turned out to be a game that was well worth watching.
The Vashon girls will stay home for the next two games against Bellevue Christian at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 and then Cascade Christian at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6.
— Alan Zoltie is the assistant coach of the VHS girls soccer team.
