VHS girls’ soccer heading to playoffs
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 24, 2018
On Oct. 16, the Vashon Pirate girls’ soccer team traveled to their Nisqually League foe Charles Wright Academy to play the Terriers. This is a big-time high school rivalry, not only for the soccer girls but also for the boys in the spring. Earlier this year Vashon dismantled Charles Wright at home 8-0. Going into the game, Vashon knew they would be looking for redemption. However, that will have to wait until next year.
The scoring came quick and easy yet again for the Pirates. Senior Anna Riggs blasted three goals past the Terrier keeper. It was Riggs’ first hat trick of the season, and two of her goals were assisted beautifully by Emily Serebryakov. Also a senior, Serebryakov displayed her dribbling prowess and added one of her own after being set up by Vashon’s leading goal scorer, junior Sydnee Adams. Pirate keeper Tamsen Henry wasn’t getting much action thanks to junior Hannah Spranger and freshman Lucy Wing locking things down at the back, so she instead ran laps in front of the goal to stay warm and ready. The Vashon scoring didn’t stop at five as sophomore Corrine Ryan added her sixth goal of the year, and freshman Frankie Brown got in on the action, too, drilling home her third goal of the 2018 season. Vashon played keep away for most of the second half with many attackers taking on defensive roles with defenders getting a chance to play as forwards. When the referee blew the final whistle, the girls had prevailed again against Charles Wright, this time 7-1.
The post-game mood wasn’t as positive after Vashon did battle with first-place Bellevue Christian last Thursday. The last time these two met, Bellevue won in two overtimes, 4-3. This time, on a warm day at Marymoor Park, the outcome was similar, in favor of Bellevue Christian, 3-2. It was a back-and-forth game on a small field. The Pirates had ample opportunities to tie and take the lead, but couldn’t find the back of the net more than twice. Defensively, Vashon was led by Phoebe Wilke and Ella Wheeler, while Adams and Riggs took care of the two-goal offense in this game.
The Pirates were set to play Annie Wright on Wednesday, Oct. 24, after press time and celebrate Senior Night as well. Then it will be on to the playoffs for the Pirates. If they win Wednesday, their first playoff game will be Tuesday, Oct. 30, at Silverdale Stadium as the second-place Nisqually league team with a league record of 5-2-1. Should they be defeated on Senior Night, they would most likely play at home on Saturday as the third seed.
— Scott Nicolino is the girls’ soccer coach.
