The annual Ryan Krug Vashon cup soccer match was played on Feb. 23, to raise money for a community scholarship bearing the name of the late Vashon Island High School soccer player. The game raised over $2,500 this year.

Rich Krug attended and gave a few words of encouragement on behalf of his son both pre- and post-game. The game pits a men’s team that bids for starting positions against the oldest Vashon Island Soccer Club boys team, who were coached this year by Scott Mentink and Shanti Escovido.

Vashon co-housing saw elder Ezra Koenig facing off against Levi Stahl. Luis Eicher-Lyons, Peter Amick, Gibson Silagi and Grant Lyons also joined the men’s team to add some youthful energy. Shanti added his talent to the boys team as well in a time-honored “coach can pay to play” rule in this tournament. It is worth noting that club senior Nick Kraabel’s older brother, Geoff Kraabel, was one of the players in the first Vashon Cup.

Rex McFarlin took keeper duties for the men the first half and his 6-foot-6-inch wingspan kept a few out. Andy Casey, playing center back, was called for a foul in the box against Chance Mentink and Jakob Heuschert drilled it into left side netting beyond the wingspan to open the scoring and give the boys an early lead.

However, the men quickly retaliated when Luis Eicher-Lyons took a hard shot parried away by club team keeper, senior Marley Kott. Christopher Haskins ran onto the deflection and chipped the keeper to even things up.

Tied in the second half, the men tried to amp up the pressure. Consistent passing and ball movement by the men were met with speed and determination from the boys. Will Kim was a constant presence up the right-hand side, with no ball too far out of reach to try. Seniors Nick Kraabel and Richard Rivas were stout in defense and midfield, but eventually, the men broke through. On a throw-in, Luis was lurking on the far post, then made a quick diagonal run into the box left to right when the throw-in was taken (from left side of field). He had a step on his defender, and toe-poked it past the diving keeper, then just hammered it on home with his left foot.

The boys continued to create chances, including one by exchange student Farkahn Demir, who nearly netted one after a brilliant run beating his defender around the corner. On the other end, the men earned a corner and Luis put a corner into his cousin, Grant Lyons, who finished side netting with nothing the keeper could do. The game was a spirited match.