The Vashon Vultures met the Gig Harbor Tide on Tuesday, April 25, hoping for revenge after the team squandered a fourth-quarter lead in the prior game there, losing by one.
The first quarter started off bumpy with Gig Harbor taking an early 2-0 lead. Diego Gray-Wishik, however, broke the ice with his now-patented leaping, looping overhand lefty shot. The Tide returned the favor, and then Calvin McMillan made a quick cut to open territory in front of goal and take his usual no-look spin shot for a second goal. The first quarter ended Tide 3, Vultures 2. Paris Brown opened the third quarter with a great feed to Kiryk Mozeleski, who put it away to even the game. Brown loves the full windup shot, and that is what he did on the next play, scorching the grass tops and the goalie’s hightops to establish Vashon’s first lead. However, a number of defensive mishaps, and some sloppy midfield play, resulted in the Tide leading 5-4 at half.
It was senior night, and Coach Daniel Macca had a few kind words to say for his seniors, whose off-season leadership has been a key to success this year. Dawit Tuller-Ross, Jack Kelly, Kellan Riley and Carson Nye are great players, leading with plenty of hard work. Riley is just a second-year player, but his quickness in faceoffs has made him an invaluable addition to the team.
Vashon’s Max Schira quickly scored to open the second half with a hard right-handed shot with a very slim angle coming off the left crease. As a measure of the team versatility, this was the fifth Vashon player to score in the game. Not until the next goal by Mozeleski was there a second goal by one player. Brown then scored his second goal, and Tuller-Ross got in one of his own, becoming the sixth player to score, and Vashon led 8-5 at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was the test of the season. The Tide came out and scored two quick goals. On one play Duncan McMillan came out pretty far before his pass got intercepted. The Tide player took a 25-yard shot at an open goal, which went high and wide. After several broken plays with shoestring saves or outcomes, the team felt lucky to not be down a goal. Schira and Mozeleski were not done yet though, and both added a goal for a final 10-8 win.
The team’s defense also did some yeoman’s work. Junior Carlos Hernandez had a great night in midfield, capturing plenty of ground balls directed his way off Riley’s faceoffs.
On Friday, April 28, the Vultures played North Kitsap there. Vashon established an early lead with two goals from Schira followed by three from Mozeleski, while giving up just one goal. Daxton Solis of North Kitsap was dominant in the faceoffs, so Vashon’s defense had to step up and win the ball to enable offensive possession.
The second quarter was a little sloppy defensively as Vashon gave up three goals, but scored four. The first was from Schira, then there were three in succession from Mozeleski, including a behind-the-back shot as he came across the face of goal.
Third quarter was more of the same, with Vashon scoring four more. Duncan McMillan had quite a half in goal, with numerous saves, including three saves on one continuous play. Kitsap scored four in the fourth quarter, but so did Vashon, and the game ended 17-10.
Vashon has one regular season game left and is undefeated in the 1A/2A conference. Vashon will host a playoff game on Saturday, May 20, facing the winner of a play-in between Overlake and Sehome. If Vashon wins that, then on May 24, they will likely face their nemesis White River, who will be without the 18 seniors the Vultures faced last year. The state playoff, if they make it that far, is on Saturday, May 28, at Starfire Sports in Tukwila.
— Greg Martin is the father of a Vashon Vultures lacrosse player.
