Valkyries end season with win

Two seniors honored for skills, leadership

The Vashon Valkyries ended their season Monday evening at the Vashon High School stadium with a dramatic win over South Kitsap.

The Valkyries came from behind and scored three goals in the final four minutes, leaving the last game with 10-9 victory.

It was the team’s seventh win of the season, which included just two losses. Coach Larry DuBois, talking about the season that evening, noted that the girls rely on a team attack for scoring, which includes a lot of passing and cutting, and results in a more potent attack than relying on just one or two girls to score — and spreads the scoring around. In fact, the team has several high scorers in the league, including Emily Wilson, who leads the league with 32 goals. Skyler Semone, Eva Anderson and Presley Roggenbuck are also league leaders in scoring.

He also praised Fiona Westphal who played in goal this season and has excelled there.

“She had big shoes to fill and did it,” he said.

Additionally, he said, both Wilson and Mari Kanagy typically control the games’ draws, which are important in overall control of the game.

Monday evening the team honored their two graduating seniors, Eva Anderson, a midfielder, and Kira Rabourn, who played attack. He called both of them “foundational” members of the team, who “start each game and keep things rolling in the right direction.”

The Valkyries play at the JV level, and DuBois said he intends to petition the league for the team to play varsity next year. He noted that for the first time, there is a full feeder program into the high school-age team, with both U13 and U15 teams, one of the criteria to play at the varsity level.

New girls with and with out lacrosse experience will be welcome on the team next year.

— Susan Riemer