By GARY MEANS

For The Beachcomber

The Vashon Pirates girls soccer team took to the pitch last Thursday for a Nisqually League game against the Seattle Christian Warriors, and lost 2-0.

The game began badly for the Pirates when the Warriors scored two early breakaway goals to grab a quick 2-0 lead.

For the remainder of the game, the Pirates held fast.

For the most part, the Pirates limited the talented and speedy Warrior forwards to long-range shots that were blocked effortlessly by Pirate keeper Sophie Nespor.

The lone exception was a penalty-kick-range blast on a loose ball, but even that Warrior attempt failed: Nespor dove left in anticipation of the shot, which was played low but to her right. Completely extended to her left, she managed to get a foot on the ball in a dazzling kick save, which, after glancing off the cross bar, was played out by Pirate defender Anna Jones.

With a 2-0 lead, the Warriors were willing to sit back for much of the game as the Pirates pressed their attack. Despite near misses from Pirate strikers and midfielders, the Warriors kept their advantage for the remainder of the game.

Seattle Christian had not managed to retain a referee for the league game, but with characteristic sportsmanship, Pirates coach Paul Beytebiere agreed to play the game using a parent who was put forward as having some officiating experience.

The game was also marked by a number of hard fouls, particularly on the part of one of the Warriors players.

One of the more obvious aggressive plays came from behind and resulted in Pirate striker Teal Sigler hitting the turf head first.

When asked about the play after the game, Pirate players on the pitch noted that the “referee” remarked, “Teal, get up, I am not calling flops.” (It turns out he was the father of the hard-fouling member of the Seattle team).

Beytebiere’s team played through all of this with great resolve. The post-game comments from fans roundly commended the team for their spirited effort under less than optimal circumstances.

On Saturday, the Pirates played friendly against visiting North Mason, dropping the contest 7-1.

The North Mason team played very well, coming up with three first-half redirect scores that even the opposing Pirates admitted were well-played.

At the half, the 5-0 score in favor of North Mason was a strong indication of their dominance of play.

The Pirates regrouped at the half and returned to the pitch with no letdown in energy or effort.

Early in the second half, Pirate forward Cat Amick crossed the ball to a streaking Sigler who held it just long enough to get the keeper to commit, and then fired the ball to the right top of the net for the Pirates’ only score.

Center midfielders Katie Chale and Kiki Means ranged the pitch, slowing the North Mason attack, while defensively the Pirates stiffened in the second half with solid play from defenders Adria Englehard, Anna Jones, Brooke Pringle, Kaija Reinelt and Kelsey Abella. The Pirates showed in the second half that they could keep the talented North Mason attack at bay.

A post-game barbecue sponsored by Pirate families has become a tradition with visiting teams. Watching the teams mix reminded this observer that the goal of good sportsmanship is not lost on this team or their coaches.

— Gary Means is a soccer dad.