The Vashon boys varsity soccer team dealt an unsurprising clobbering over the last two weeks in the 1A Nisqually district, facing two teams — Klahowya and East Jefferson — who, as expected, gave the Pirates a lesser challenge than they faced at the season’s start.

Vashon first faced the Klahowya Eagles, who came into the match having only faced one challenging team this season — reigning state champs Overlake, to whom they lost 4-1. Vashon put on a similar display as Overlake, winning comfortably against a seemingly unprepared Klahowya by five goals to nil.

Klahowya began the game exceptionally slowly, giving the Pirates ample real estate across the pitch. The first goal for Vashon came only eight minutes in, when Pirates forward Mason Haynes cut inside away from the Eagles’ fullback and whipped in a shot from outside the box, catching the goalkeeper flat-footed. The Pirates doubled their lead three minutes later as, once again, Klahowya gave Vashon far too much room around the 18-yard box, and a cross from Avery MacLean found its way to Haynes in the box, who tucked it past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

Vashon was in cruise control from there. Klahowya came out of the break with renewed energy, until a stunning pass from the outside of Isaac Newcomb’s boot to the feet of MacLean cut the Eagles’ defense in half. MacLean received the ball and was scythed down by the Klahowya goalkeeper to win a penalty, which Newcomb tucked away to score again. Haynes found the back of the net again to secure a hat-trick and his place as Man of the Match, and Lewis Thompson sent a beautiful curving free kick into the side netting to cap off the win.

Two days later, Vashon hosted the East Jefferson Rivals, who the Pirates have traditionally walloped. Even though the Rivals have produced one of their best teams in the last five years, Vashon continued their practice of sending East Jefferson home empty-handed, this time by a staggering score of 9-2.

Ryland Knodt, Isaac Newcomb, and Lewis Thompson each scored two goals in the match, with Mason Haynes, Evanan Shrestha, and Avery MacLean scoring as well. Knodt deservedly earned Man of the Match for his goals and his constant peppering of an outclassed East Jefferson defensive line. Despite their dominance, Vashon will be disappointed about conceding any goals to a team such as East Jefferson, and will want to shore up their defense for more difficult matches to come.

After their two opening matches of the Nisqually campaign, the Pirates received a well-earned spring break. But the heat turns up as early as the day after they return from break, when Vashon will play their first away fixture of the season against perennial challengers Cascade Christian at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium, where Vashon won the state tournament in 2019. Three days later, Vashon travels to 2A Foster High School to seek revenge, having lost to the Bulldogs 2-1 last season.

The following week, Vashon will first host Annie Wright, but two days later, they will play their biggest 1A opponent of the season, taking the bus ride to Redmond to face last year’s state champs: the Overlake Owls.

Oscar Lopez is an island sportswriter, a senior at Vashon High School and a Voice of Vashon commentator for the island’s soccer teams.

Pirates schedule

• Tuesday, April 8: Away at Cascade Christian. JV at 5:30 p.m., Varsity at 7 p.m.

• Friday, April 11: Away at Foster. JV at 5:30 p.m., Varsity at 7:15 p.m.

• Monday, April 14: Home vs Annie Wright. JV at 4 p.m., Varsity at 5:45 p.m.

• Wednesday, April 16: Away at Overlake. JV at 3:30 p.m., Varsity at 5 p.m.

All varsity matches are broadcast on 101.9 FM and voiceofvashon.org.