by Declan O’Malley
Sounder contributor
Vikings soccer
Orcas Island High School Soccer has been rolling to start the season. The Vikings are on a four-game winning streak after beating Mount Vernon Christain on the road, 1-0.
“Getting the early season away win against one of the league’s top teams was great for the team. In the game, Orcas came out strong, dominating the possession and creating lots of chances,” said Viking Head Coach Terry Turner.
The Viking coach was pleased with the club’s offensive play.
“We had excellent passing and off-the-ball movement, especially in the midfield, led by Anthony Canejo, Sam Vaccarella, and Joaquin Shanks-Morales. But despite getting over twenty shots at goal, Orcas could not put the ball in the net,” Turner said.
Romeo Lago would have the game ‘s-loan goal off a ball from Amru Shanks-Morales.
“The breakthrough came in the second half. After a swift counterattack, our forward found space and slotted a precise shot past the goalkeeper. The celebration was electric, igniting our bench and fans. The final minutes were tense, but our team held firm, ensuring we secured the win. It was a great team effort that showcased our resilience and determination, said Orcas Island’s Demetrio Salinas-Cruz
Goalkeeper Tim Malo had a great game in the frame. He kept the score even late in the half with a spectacular penalty kick save.
According to Turner, Malo, who was player of the game, honors by pulling the ball out of the air amongst heavy attacking numbers time after time, enabling Orcas to hold on for the 1-0 win.
After the match, Lago reflected on the team’s performance.
“It’s kinda bittersweet. On one end, we played a great game. It was really the first close game, and we got to see how we matched up with teams. We played our game and kept possession pretty well. But on the other end, some of our best players are currently injured, and the teams are pretty nervous. I’m just hoping we can continue to develop while we get healthy and back to 100%,” said Lago.
The 4-0 overall and 2-0 in conference Vikings will now take on the Laconner Braves on the road in Laconner on October 1 before taking on inter-island rival Friday Harbor on October 4 at home on Orcas Island.
Note: Cienna Richardson contributed the player quotes to this story.
Cross-country
Orcas Island High School Cross Country had a busy week. On Wednesday, Sept. 25, they hosted a league invite to Orcas event, which featured Coupville and Mount Vernon Christian High Schools.
That weekend, Orcas attended the Kings Cross Invite in Shoreline, Washington. As a team, Orcas finished third in the Junior Varsity (JV) 3 Mile-over 20 minutes in team score. Finn Ontijes finished third, Robin Limbach finished in the top 25 in the JV event, and Hugh Kirk finished in the top 50.
