Vashon High School’s boys’ soccer team tasted victory at a home game on April 3 against Coupeville High School and again against Bellevue Christian April 5.

During the Coupeville game, the Vashon boys started the game out with good passing between Zane Bork and Ben Gass. Bork scored a goal just three minutes in. Vashon kept up the pace with solid shots on goal by Bork and Finley Oswald, which led to Bork scoring again in the 18th minute assisted by Gass.

Vashon also had strong defense in the back by Ryan Weller and Elliot Eades. The Pirates kept the ball on the opponent’s side, putting the pressure on the Coupeville Wolves. Oswald had great tackles and breakaways leading to him having a nice shot in the back of the net in the 24th minute. The Pirates had a 3-0 lead at halftime.

The second half started out promising, with Vashon getting nice runs and a goal by Julian White-Davis with a nice assist from Alden Hinden-Stevenson just after the whistle blew in the 42nd minute. Coupeville was now losing 4-0 and put more pressure on the Pirates by getting a few good shots and eventual goal in the 45th minute. Vashon fought back hard and Hinden-Stevenson scored in the 49th minute with an assist from Sam Foucault.

While Coupeville fought hard to have a comeback, the Pirates’ great defense and crucial saves from Richard Rivas in goal ended the game with a 5-1 win for Vashon.

The team had its second game of the week on April 5 against the Bellevue Christian Vikings. Vashon started the game off with good passing through the midfield and solid defense. Vashon carried the ball well and had nice crosses and shots on the goal. Pirate Christian White made good through balls to Oswald and he managed to get a goal four minutes into the game.

Vashon and Bellevue Christian both pressured the ball, but Vashon had more control in the first half. In the 25th minute, an opponent had a nasty tackle on Oswald in the penalty box, leading to the referee giving Vashon a penalty. Gass took the shot and the ball sailed into the back corner of the goal giving Vashon a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, Bellevue Christian came back strong, pressuring the Pirates and getting a goal in the 50th minute. But Vashon kept the pressure with excellent defense from Kieran Enzian and Eades. Vashon had good runs down the sides and aggressive tackles, but Bellevue Christian kept fighting to tie and got another goal in the 66th minute.

The game against the Vikings was a league game, so one of the teams had to win. Both teams fought hard and it was an intense second half. Vashon had strong passes from Gass from the midfield and had multiple shots on goal from Foucault and Bork. In the 78th minute, Bork had a game-winning shot on goal that landed in the back of the net with a nice assist from Gass. Vashon fought hard and it paid off with a 3-2 victory.

Coming up, the boys will take on Sultan High School at 6 p.m. Friday in Sultan. They will then play a league game against Cascade Christian at 7 p.m. Monday, April 17, in Sumner.

— Mari Betybiere is a Vashon High School student, girls’ soccer player and boys’ soccer team manager.