Girls’ soccer team bound for state tournament

Published 11:00 am Tuesday, November 8, 2016

The Vashon High School girls’ soccer team took on Klahowya on Tuesday, Nov. 1, with the winner of the game guaranteed a spot at the state tournament. Unfortunately, the Pirates were not themselves during that game. Klahowya scored very early, which threw the Pirates off, and they struggled to keep themselves in the game. Klahowya dominated and scored two more, and the game ended at 3-0.

Despite this unfortunate result, the Pirates had another chance to go through to the state competition. Last Saturday, the team took on the Charles Wright Tarriers. It took a while for the Pirates to fall into their rhythm. They weren’t holding the ball well, but were still clearly the dominant team. The dynamic completely changed, however, when senior captain Madison Browne arrived at the end of the first half, having been delayed by the SAT exam that morning. Comforted by her presence, the Pirates began to settle into a rhythm, take more shots and hold the ball for longer.

Halftime came and went, and the Pirates still had nothing to show for their hard work. Any chances that Charles Wright got were being quickly shut down by Vashon’s defense. The end of the second half started to creep up, and there was still no score. Finally, with less than five minutes left, Anna Riggs stepped up to take a corner kick. The ball drifted directly to the head of Mira Peterson, who directed it in the far top corner. The Pirates erupted with screams of joy. All that was left between them and State was five minutes of playing. The subs on the sidelines waited for the whistle to rush the field. They almost rushed the field too early when the ref blew the whistle for a foul. Browne and a player from the opposing team were both shown yellow cards. A few seconds after the play began again, the final whistle blew. The subs rushed the field to celebrate: The Pirates were going to State, and Peterson was the hero of the afternoon, scoring a well-deserved goal when it counted the most.

The Pirates will play their first game of the state tournament at 6 p.m. today, Wednesday, against King’s at King’s High School in Shoreline. If the Pirates win, they will move on and possibly play three more rounds. The state champions will be determined on Saturday, Nov. 19.

— Paris Crispin is a member of the VHS girls’ soccer team.