by Declan O’Malley
Sounder contributor
After a historic season, including a 15-game unbeaten streak, the Orcas Island High School soccer team is returning to the state tournament. The Vikings secured their spot with a 2-1 record in the postseason’s bi-district tournament. Lopez and Friday Harbor will also compete at state.
Bi-District Match 1: Orcas vs. Concordia Christian Academy
In the opening round of the bi-district tournament, the Vikings’ offense dominated Concordia Christian Academy, scoring seven goals, while the defense recorded a “clean sheet” in a 7-0 victory. This was the most significant margin of victory and the most goals scored in the tournament.
Kevin Ibarra and Joaquin Shanks-Morales each scored multiple goals, while Anthony Conejo, Sam Vaccarella and Golden Raymer added a goal. The win marked the Vikings’ 16th consecutive match without a loss and secured a semifinal berth.
Bi-District Semi-Final: Orcas vs. Providence Classical Christian
In the semifinal, the Vikings faced Providence Classical Christian, a team they had previously beaten in the regular season. Orcas won 2-1 after a hard-fought battle. After an early goal from Conejo, PCC equalized just before halftime.
With the game tied 1-1, the Vikings were awarded a penalty kick in the second half. Ibarra calmly converted the kick, giving Orcas a 2-1 lead and sending them to the bi-district championship against an inter-island rival.
Bi-District Championship: Orcas vs. Lopez Island High School
The championship match marked the season’s second meeting between Orcas and Lopez. The Vikings had won 1-0 in their regular-season match. However, Lopez capitalized on momentum from earlier tournament victories and took a 1-0 win in the final.
Lopez’s lone goal came from Ethan Patrick, who fired a powerful shot from just outside the 18-yard box in the game’s final three minutes.
“I felt like on Saturday, both groups showed up exactly as I’d hoped finalists in the district championship would — with respect for the game and each other,” said Lopez coach Mycah Kraushaar. “Ultimately, it came down to who could find the back of the net. We had the finish this time; Orcas had it last time.”
Kraushaar expressed pride in Lopez’s performance throughout the bi-district tournament.
“It warms the heart to see sportsmanship superseding the desire to win,” Kraushaar said. “Lopez’s first two district matchups this season, against Auburn and Friday Harbor, felt tense and unnecessarily physical. I left the district championship on Saturday grateful for a healthy matchup between two clearly skilled teams.”
Orcas advances to state tournament
The Vikings fell short in the championship match but still advanced to the state tournament. This year, three teams from the San Juan Islands — Orcas, Lopez, and Friday Harbor — will compete in the state playoffs. Orcas enters as the No. 1 seed, Lopez as the No. 2 seed, and Friday Harbor at No. 6.
State tournament games begin on November 15-16 at neutral sites, with the semifinals and finals to be held at Memorial Stadium in Federal Way. Orcas will open their state run against Puget Sound Adventist Academy.
