By KELLY MCEACHERN
For The Beachcomber
The Vashon High School girls soccer team wrapped up the regular season with a 9-4-3 record after splitting the final two games last week.
Eatonville brought its league-leading, undefeated juggernaut to the island on Tuesday and easily handled the spirited but overmatched Vashon squad. The Cruisers displayed long-range shooting and effective physical defense as they showed why they are the team to beat in the state playoffs. The Pirates put up a good fight despite the score, managing several good shots and punishing the woodwork repeatedly in the second half, but without wrinkling the net.
The Pirate seniors were honored at halftime of the last home game. The team will say goodbye to seven graduating players when the playoffs conclude: Samantha Biro, Paige Browne, Harper Howard, Lliralyn McEachern, Lauren Ockinga, Michelle Raney and Brooke Whitney. This group of seniors has been the backbone of an unprecedented run of success for the girls’ soccer program, having qualified for the tri-district tournament in each of their four seasons, including a fourth place finish in the state finals in their freshman season. Congratulations and thanks to them all; their contributions, skill, competitive spirit and passion will be sorely missed.
The season concluded with another whitewash of the Chimicum Cowgirls on Thursday night. The Pirates easily dispatched their last place opponent, 9-0, despite missing some key players. Goals were notched by Madelyn McEachern (2), Lauren Jenks (2), Ana Deguzman, Katherine Andrus and Madison Browne. Also, senior keeper Lauren Ockinga scored her first of the year. Chimicum also added an own goal to the final accounting. The shutout was Vashon’s fifth this season, wrapping up a fine season by both Ockinga and fellow netminder sophomore Kate Atwell.
Coach Sergei Serebryakov will lead his team into the tri-district tournament to face defending state champions University Prep on Tuesday in Seattle, in a loser out game. Results were not available at press time. A win will propel the Pirates to a second round match Thursday night.
Good luck to the Pirates in their quest to get back to the state finals.
— Kelly McEachern is the father of two Pirate soccer players.
