The Vashon under-15 youth league soccer team came away from this weekend with a second-place medal in the Washington Youth Soccer Recreation Cup, a tournament to award the best recreational youth soccer teams in the state. After a great season of steadily improving performance on the field playing teams from around the Puget Sound, the Vashon boys ended the season on a high note with their best effort on both sides of the pitch.
After defeating the Northshore Youth Soccer Association Cobras from Bothell early in the morning on Saturday by the score of 4-2, the Vashon boys fell to the undefeated Redmond Wolves 1-8 in the evening championship game under the lights at Starfire. The semifinal games held earlier in the day also included the Southwest Washington Youth Soccer Cheetahs from Vancouver, Washington.
Because of their solid qualifying performance during the year, the team, coached by Shanti Escovedo, Hans Van Dusen and Scott Mentink, made the tournament. Many of the players from this Vashon team play with McMurray Middle School’s soccer team, and all of the players will be moving on to high school next year.
The first game of the weekend started very strong for the Vashon boys, as they held the ball consistently in the opponents half and pushed forward putting pressure on the defense for the team from Bothell. Vashon scored with well navigated rebound strikes and a header in the box off a solid corner delivery.
Every player was ready to play with great concentration and solid effort. Skilled footwork helped them keep the ball away from the Cobras, and amazing speed from the defenders and quick reaction from Vashon’s goalie stopped the opponent from scoring on breakaways. The 4-2 win led to a berth in the championship game later that day.
The Redmond Wolves were undefeated this year and brought a very skilled physical team to the championship match. After a four-hour break from the morning game, the Vashon team was still ready to play hard to make a run at the cup.
After a freak goal by Redmond at the kickoff, the Vashon boys held firm through the first half. Speedy defenders again prevented the opponent from finishing their runs, and Vashon’s goalie even stopped a penalty kick after a foul was committed in the penalty box. In the end the Wolves exhibited the talent that led them to the championship and won with 8 goals scored to just 1 from Vashon.
Video highlights from the game as well as more information about all ages of soccer on Vashon is available at facebook.com/groups/1614604172196241/.
— Joel Schoenberg is the father of a Vashon soccer player.
