The Vashon High School soccer team opened up the season last Tuesday with a lopsided 9-0 win against an outmatched, outpaced, outplayed Eatonville side. The game was essentially over at halftime, but despite pulling back and playing a possession game at that point, the team continued to see shot opportunities rise up until the final whistle. Goals were by seniors Gabe Reoux, 4; Anthony Gateman, 2; Bohdin Mozeleski, 1; Bernard Cowen, 1, and sophomore Alden Hinden-Stevenson, 1.
On Thursday the soccer team had to face King’s High School at the home field. Last year VHS suffered a painful and lopsided defeat after an early red card left the team playing one man down the entire match. This year despite King’s being a strong favorite to win, on a small, bumpy VHS grass field, the Pirates came out defending hard and winning balls in the middle. Both teams played an open style, with plenty of chances at either end. Reoux finally broke through and scored a header off a corner kick in the 20th minute. This author (who does have referee credentials) must say that the refereeing allowed for a very open style of play. Little was called by way of fouls. However, there were two critical calls. Senior keeper Brett Beardsley was on his best form and made a series of extremely brave tackles. The momentum definitely had turned to King’s favor. In one case, he dove to stop the shot, the ball bounced loose, and he gathered it but was then stepped on by the opposing player, and the ball was kicked into the goal. However, the referee determined that the keeper had been fouled, and no goal was awarded. There was little argument from the King’s side. With 10 minutes to go, King’s evened the game, with a little bit of luck, an ill-timed tackle and some speed down the left flank.
With time running out for a win, the Pirates made several incisive runs and had at least three pretty good opportunities go high or wide. Junior Ben Gass played a beautiful ball out of the midfield just over the top of the King’s back line, and Zane Bork timed his run to hit that line at full speed just as the ball passed over. Going one-on-one with the goalie, he was taken down from behind at the top of the box. The penalty kick was awarded, and seniors Reoux and Mozeleski talked about who would take it. Captain Gateman had just suffered a significant leg cramp (his reward for his massive efforts over the course of the game), so was not in the mix.
Mozeleski stepped up and coolly nailed it down the middle while his body language said left and the goalie dove that way. The Pirates closed the game out, winning 2-1.
The varsity boys have a 6 p.m. home game against Seattle Christian on Thursday.
— Greg Martin is the father of a Pirate soccer player.
