By MARIE PY
For The Beachcomber
The Vashon Island Soccer Club (VISC) offered four distinct soccer programs to a fast-growing number of Island futbol players this year.
The pre-kindergarten program consists mostly of “kick-arounds,” while the kindergarten program is in its fourth year.
The Modified, or “Mod,” League Program allows younger athletes to play against fewer opponents on smaller fields, and the Association League includes players ages 10 through 13 (U11-U14) and ages 14 through 17 (U15-U18), who participate in the Tacoma Pierce County Junior Soccer Association (TPCJSA) and District III, respectively.
The Mod League gives younger athletes (under age 10) the opportunity to play soccer competitively while learning the rules and nuances of the game.
Coaches do not keep scores or standings; they focus on development of young players. TPCJSA and District III keep scores and standings.
District III encompasses various soccer associations and includes TPCJSA and the Federal Way, Highline, Auburn, Mount Rainier, Greater Renton, Narrows, Maple Valley and Kent Youth Soccer Associations.
TPCJSA incorporates the following clubs: Fife, Fircrest, Farpoint, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Norpoint, Puyallup, Spanaway/Graham/Eat-onville, South Hill, South Tacoma, University Place, and Vashon’s own Vashon Island Soccer Club (VISC).
This year, VISC has 16 teams — made up of 258 players (112 boys and 146 girls) — playing U11 through U18 soccer. Collectively, the club has had 50 wins, 63 losses and 14 ties and made 282 goals against opponents.
Association League season highlights include:
The U12 boys Raptors, coached by Mark Scheer, have had only three goals scored against them this year, and are in position to take the lead in their division with a win.
Lorin Reinelt’s equally defensive-minded U14 girls Fire and Ice have allowed only two goals against them to date and sit atop their division. The coaches say a strong midfield, powerful backfield and aggressive goalkeeping combined to maintain a low goal count against them.
Coach Joe Silagi’s U15 boys Pilots have scored 32 goals so far and remain near the top of the District III Silver League.
Goals have been widely distributed across the team. Van Ralston has driven much of the scoring with 12 assists and three goals, and Zach Drape has scored 14 goals of his own.
Coach Silagi credits the team’s success to training, excellent teamwork and an outstanding pair of goalkeepers — Landon Summers and Rowan Stewart.
U11 teams leave mod-league status behind and enter recreational leagues, placing for the first time in the Bronze, Silver or Gold division. David Hackett’s GU11 Alligators started strong and scored 34 goals this year, placing in the Gold division.
Coach Jim Wescott’s GU11 Pirates boast 6 wins, 2 losses, 1 tie, 28 goals for and 10 against. They are in first place in the Bronze division and will likely go to the playoffs.
As the end of the Mod League season rolls around, and with the end of the Association League season close at hand, Vashon Island Soccer Club looks positively to the future, laying the groundwork for ongoing development.
— Marie Py is the parent of a soccer player.
