It was a bittersweet week for the Vashon boys soccer team, with a 6-0 triumph against Chimacum High School on Tuesday, May 3, and their first season loss of 2-1 against Seattle Christian on Wednesday, May 4. Regardless of the loss on Wednesday, the Pirates still finished in second place in the league.

Last week’s home game against the Chimacum Cowboys, which was also senior night, was indeed a night for the team’s three seniors to shine. Four of the six goals scored that night were split by seniors Nick Fox-Edell and Doninick Stemer, with assists for two of the scores going to midfielder Jackson McFall. 

At the halftime, as the seniors’ parents were receiving recognition bouquets, the scoreboard read 4-0.

Forward Tyler Heit got the Pirates started when he accepted a quick pass from junior midfielder Ezra Koenig for the opening goal at four minutes in. Quick moves on the ball resulted in three assists by Koenig during the game. 

In the second half with only minutes remaining, Jacob Gateman encountered a ball fed to him by Paal Nilssen and racked it into the net for the the sixth and final goal that night. 

Once again, freshman goalie Philip Vandavanter had a shutout, his fifth this season.

At last Wednesday’s game, the team faced first-place Seattle Christian, which Vashon had previously beaten 3-1. It was an intense game as the Pirates were unable to find the back of the net in their attempts to score. However, well into the second half, Seattle Christian gained the upper hand and landed two goals. 

Shortly after the second score, at the 76th minute, junior Tyler Heit had great teamwork with midfielder Paal Nilssen and found the back of the net to give the Pirates a well-deserved goal.

Last week’s games concluded the Pirates’ regular season, and the team finished in secondplace in the Nisqually League. Yesterday the boys competed in the first tri-district playoff game, against University Prep. 

Earlier in the season, the Pirates beat UP 2-0. It is an elimination round, and the Pirates need to win in order to advance to the next match, scheduled for Friday, May 13.

— Karen O’Neil is the mother of a Pirate soccer player.