By KELLY McEACHERN
For The Beachcomber
The Pirate girls soccer team took on three more Nisqually foes last week, including games at league leader Eatonville and home against Chimicum and Cedar Park Christian.
Monday’s tilt against Eatonville quickly turned into a one-sided affair as the Cruisers scored three goals in the first 10 minutes on a rain-soaked field. The trend continued throughout the game as the Vashon girls appeared a step too slow at each position, and Eatonville won going away, 7-0.
The home portion of the schedule brought happier results as the Pirates easily dispatched mid-week opponent Chimicum.
The Cowgirls played with their usual upbeat attitude and great sportsmanship even as the Vashon squad racked up 12 unanswered goals. Led by Llira McEachern’s hat trick, the goal scorers included Camille Deguzman, Emily Browne, Maddie McEachern, Mira Jewell-Peterson, Hannah McArthur, Lauren Jenks, Ellen Chappelka, Michelle Raney and Katherine Andrus. Assists were provided by Llira, Camille, Maddie and Samatha Biro in the 12-0 final tally.
Saturday the fourth place Pirates hosted the third place Eagles of Cedar Park, with the winner taking third place. Cedar Park put the pressure on first as they scored early in the first half. The Pirates managed an equalizer just before the half as Katherine Andrus followed a misplay by the Eagle keeper for a 1-1 score. In the second half the Pirates scored the go-ahead goal when Andrus continued her run of nice play by finishing an assist from Llira McEachern for a 2-1 lead.
Cedar Park responded with a goal on a gift free kick to bring it to a 2-2 at the end of regulation play.
Though the teams had battled feverishly for 80 minutes, 10 more minutes awaited the exhausted sides in overtime.
In the first five-minute overtime period, both teams were clearly fatigued and evenly matched. As time wound down in the second overtime period, it seemed the teams would tie for the second time this season. The Pirates took one last shot at a victory when Jewell-Peterson won a ball on the left touch line, and in a display of great effort and skill, eluded multiple Eagle defenders to find herself in the left side of the 18-yard box. Players from both teams flooded the area as she found Llira McEachern in front of the net for the game winner with less than a minute remaining.
The Pirates wildly celebrated a hard- earned victory and sole possession of third place as time expired.
The 5-2-2 Pirates faced Cascade Christian Tuesday night after press time.
They travel to Charles Wright on Thursday.
— Kelly McEachern is a parent and soccer fan.
