After a loss to Charles Wright on Saturday, the Vashon Pirates have one more chance to go to the state 1A soccer tournament. The Pirates lost 4-0 to unbeaten Charles Wright, but a win next Saturday in the Bi-District Tournament will put them in the state playoffs.

Vashon, as the number two seed from the West Central District (WCD), plays the third seed from the Northwest District (NWD) at 1 p.m. at Mount Vernon May 16. Until the state semi-finals, all games from now on are loser out.

With their win, Charles Wright, WCD1, earned a state slot. The Tarriers play NWD1 for seeding to state on Saturday.

Port Townsend beat Orting 5-3 and plays NWD2 on Saturday for the final state entry from the bi-district.

Charles Wright’s scoring machine, Dillon Truscott, almost single-handedly did the Pirates in, finding the net in the third minute, the 21st minute and with 12 seconds remaining in the game. The Tarriers fourth goal came from a penalty kick after a Vashon defender was sent off for slapping another Truscott out of the goal with his hand, leaving the Pirates to play short-handed for 49 minutes.

Thomas Timm-Skove, Vashon’s only senior starter, came close to putting the Pirates on the board late in the second half, but couldn’t get through Charles Wright’s almost impenetrable defense. The Tarriers have allowed only three goals this season while scoring 47 in their 10 league games alone.

Vashon freshman defender Nick Gass had an outstanding game, going head-to-head with the Tarriers.

Coach Paul Beytebiere said he is looking forward to Saturday’s game and taking the team to state in what started out as a rebuilding year.

“I like to play new teams we haven’t seen,” commented Beytebiere. As of press time, it was not known who the Pirates will play on Saturday.

State play begins Tuesday, May 19, with time and fields determined by the teams still playing.

— Rik Forschmiedt is a volunteer soccer coach and a former Beachcomber sports editor.