Because the three public schools and three private schools in Nisqually League 1A boys soccer all have different break schedules, Vashon didn’t have any league games last week.

Instead the varsity and JV played Seattle Prep, a 3A state quarterfinalist last year, on Tuesday, March 30, at Magnuson Park, the Panthers’ home field. Seattle Prep won the varsity game 1-0 and the JV game 4-0.

The Pirate varsity team played what was probably its best performance of the season so far. Vashon held Seattle Prep scoreless through the first half and gave up only one goal early in the second half on the windy turf field.

Vashon’s JV players held their own through most of the first half with the wind at their backs, but they were unable to score. Prep snuck in one goal late in the half.

In the second half, the Panther JV had the wind advantage, but the Pirates’ defense held against relentless pressure until late in the game. Prep got another goal late in the game, then put in two goals against an exhausted Vashon defense in stoppage time.

On Wednesday, March 31, the Pirate JV took advantage of a bus going to Cascade Christian for a baseball game to schedule an extra game with the Cougar JV. The baseball game was postponed because of wet grounds, but the soccer team went anyway and lost 3-1.

Faced with two very quick Cougar forwards, the Pirates got a good test.

In the 36th minute, Cougar Ben Lee got away from the Pirate defenders for a 1-0 lead that carried in to halftime.

The Pirates took over as the second half opened, and in the 54th minute Sjors Steneker unleashed a crossing shot that beat the Cascade keeper but was deflected off the goal line by a defender.

Walker Merchant, coming in from the other side, stepped up and put the ball in the back of the net to tie the game.

Less than a minute later Lee got away again to put the Cougars up 2-1.

Coach Liam O’Neil put in extra power up front in an attempt to tie the score, but Yoon Kim got away for another Cascade goal with only seconds remaining in the game.

The Pirate varsity returns to action after spring break with a critical Nisqually League game at Cascade Christian on Tuesday, April 13.

The JV is scheduled to travel to Chimacum Monday, April 12, for a 4 p.m. game, then goes to Cascade Christian again on Tuesday, April 13.