Pirates continue season’s success

The top-ranked Pirate soccer team worked hard last week in a busy four-game schedule resulting in two ties and a huge win on Friday against University Prep of Seattle. With ties of 2-2 against Charles Wright Academy and 1-1 against Orting High School and a 2-0 win against University Prep, Vashon is now strongly in second place in the Nisqually League.

By Karen O'Neil • April 26, 2011 12:02 pm
Vashon defender Jesse Turner beats Orting’s striker to a header midway in the second half of Tuesday’s 1-1 tie game at Orting.
Vashon defender Jesse Turner beats Orting’s striker to a header midway in the second half of Tuesday’s 1-1 tie game at Orting.

The top-ranked Pirate soccer team worked hard last week in a busy four-game schedule resulting in two ties and a huge win on Friday against University Prep of Seattle. With ties of 2-2 against Charles Wright Academy and 1-1 against Orting High School and a 2-0 win against University Prep, Vashon is now strongly in second place in the Nisqually League.

Junior Ezra Koenig had outstanding double goals in Thursday’s game against rival Charles Wright, allowing for the score to end tied.

Earlier in the week at Orting, it was seniors Dominick Stemmer and Nick Fox-Edele who dominated in teamwork, resulting in a 1-1 tie.

Going into Friday’s game, Vashon gathered its fortitude to go up against University Prep, which had previously won against all teams in the Nisqually league. Strong work by defensive line of Jesse Turner, Jesse Hazzard Kristian Nilssen and Van Ralston kept balls mostly north of the net on Friday’s game, resulting in a shut out by keeper Philip Vandavanter.

A first goal by Paal Nilssen put the Pirates in the lead. In the second half, a foul resulted in an indirect free kick, which junior Nick Gass skillfully shot straight into the back of the net.

The Pirates are headed off to play two varsity games this week and hope to regain their first-place position when they go into tri-district playoffs beginning the week of May 9.

Superstars Seattle Sounders Nate Jaqua and Taylor Graham surprised the Pirates on Monday when they showed up to work with the soccer team at their regular practice at the high school. The players were thrilled to to get signatures and some photos with the top Major League Soccer players and also gained new skills in the drills they completed with tips from the pros.

Jaqua and Graham have traveled to the Island multiple times before to work with Vashon Island Soccer Club teams as arranged by Islander Mark Scheer, but this is the first time they have appeared with the VHS soccer team, which was thrilled to rub shoulders with the professional athletes.

 

— Karen O’Neil is the mother of a Pirate soccer player.