The Vashon girls’ varsity team kicked off their 2023 season with a trio of decisive victories.

The Pirates are coached by Scott Niccolino for the third consecutive season with assistance from John Thomas, Paul Beytebiere, Bret Owensby, and trainer, Ryan Jaeger.

Vashon was relentless against Life Christian in game one, winning 8-0.

Game two matched the hometown favorites against Port Townsends’ East Jefferson Rivals — a team they beat last year in the playoffs.

The Pirates dismantled and dominated the Rivals with relentless pressure, spending nearly the entire game in their offensive side of the field. East Jefferson simply couldn’t keep up physically or match the Pirates mentally.

Kate Spranger broke the 0-0 tie, scoring her first goal of the season on a lovely and creative set piece. Olivia Boyes sailed a beautiful ball from the corner that 5-foot 11-inch Spranger headed in past the Rival keeper.

Speedster Alana Bass scored her third goal of the season after racing downfield from her defensive spot making it 2-0. Bass was credited with another goal, having been the last Pirate to touch the ball before the Rivals scored on themselves.

Linnea Heuschert and Alex Waterworth also found the back of the net to cap off the scoring for the Pirates. Waterworth had a tremendous all-around game and was rewarded with her first goal of the season.

Ivy Staczek notched her first shutout of the early season with the Pirates beating the Rivals 5-0.

Game three, against Annie Wright, was played under a gloriously bright late summer sun. The Pirates looked fierce in their black kits with keeper Staczek glowing in neon yellow.

Linnea Heuschert wasted no time scoring the first goal 57 seconds into the game on her way to a hat trick and all the scoring. Heuschert nearly got a fourth, but her free kick from the 10-yard line sailed through the football uprights, which in this brand of futbol doesn’t count.

Vashon’s stout defense features Senior Alanna Bass and several underclass students including Lillith Provo, Lena Puz, Miriam Casad and Lena Puz.

They provided stellar protection for keeper Staczek until an Annie Wright striker broke through the line and blasted a point-blank shot that would have knotted the score in most games. Staczek dove and laid out to her left, cradling the shot in her abdomen, to the amazement and delight of the crowd.

At some point this season Staczek will be scored on, but it wouldn’t be this game.

Three Pirates, Malia Grantor, Besa Hruska, and Mallory Keenan were benched but injured and unable to play, leaving the Vashon squad with very few substitutes.

The second half was a bit of a ho-hummer with many of the Pirates clearly winded. Coach Niccolino may want to add more running to practices to get the team better prepared to play a full 80 minutes.

The game ended 3-0. The Pirate girls have outscored their opponents 16-0.

All games can be heard on Voice of Vashon. Oscar Lopez, a Pirate soccer player himself, offers skilled and entertaining commentary on the games that can be heard live or streamed after the game.