Bainbridge boys soccer won first Metro title in school history | Year in Review
Published 4:51 pm Friday, June 6, 2008
When Dylan Tucker-Ganges departed the Bainbridge boys’ soccer team two games into the season, the thought was there that the team wouldn’t accomplish much.
Instead, they came together and made their way through the regular season with ease, earning shutout wins over teams like O’Dea, Central Kitsap and Seattle Prep twice thanks to a stellar defense and a group of offensive players that could score at any time.
Though the Spartans lost the last game of the regular season, they still finished first in the Metro League Mountain Division, their first Metro division title in school history.
From there, they were denied a league title by Lakeside, who went on to take fourth in the state, but rebounded to defeat Eastside Catholic and Skyline to make it to state.
Though they lost to Capitol in the first round, the potential for bigger and better things lie in the future of the team with several standouts returning next season.
For their efforts this season, three Spartans and head coach George Vukic made the All-Metro League team.
Three Spartans and Vukic also made the All-Kitsap News Group team, as voted on by the sports writers for the Bainbridge Island Review, the Bremerton Patriot, the Central Kitsap Reporter, the North Kitsap Herald and the Port Orchard Independent.
Candidates for the team are nominated by the writers for their respective areas. The nominees are then voted on by the writers, with the top vote-getters making the teams.
Two honorable mentions are selected from each school for each sport. The teams include the best players from area schools that not only performed well individually, but played a role in the success of their team as well.
The starters
F – Francisco Garcia, Bremerton, senior – Simply put, Garcia was a scoring machine. Tallying 17 goals, along with six assists, Garcia led the Olympic League in goals as well as overall points (40).
Lightening fast and a magician with the ball, Garcia punished nearly every team he faced, overcoming occasional double- and triple-team coverage to put points on the board.
F – Cody Clark, Olympic, senior – A true goal scorer, Clark notched 11 goals and dished out three assists for 25 total points.
The St. Martin’s University-bound Clark was one of the most prolific scorers in the county, putting up 49 goals during his four years despite missing several games across that span due to injuries.
F – John Troka, Kingston, senior – Troka is a player who owns the field whenever he’s on it. He plays everywhere and was the Buccaneers’ go-to man in a sticky situation, nailing the game-winning goal in the school’s first-ever state soccer playoff game.
F – Justin Moore, South Kitsap, junior – Moore became the first junior captain in Eric Bergeson’s 11-year tenure as coach at South and was the Wolves’ leading scorer. He scored 12 goals and added four assists this season.
“He may have been the best captain we’ve had,” Bergeson said. “He’s a workhorse.”
MF – Darryn Reinertson, Klahowya, senior – While Reinertson led the Eagles with five goals and an assist, he accounted for about half of the team’s total goals (11).
With a stronger supporting cast, Reinertson could easily have been in double-digits.
MF – Sam Mouser, North Kitsap, senior – Mouser led the Vikings in game-winning goals and was the second best goal scorer on the team with seven.
He’s also the ninth-best scorer for both the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas, pairing his seven goals with six assists for 20 points.
MF – Kane Williams, Central Kitsap, senior – Williams was as versatile as they come for the Cougars, shifting regularly between forward and the midfield, even dropping back to defense some during the postseason.
He scored a team-best six goals to go with five assists.
D – Pat Triggs, Central Kitsap, junior – Triggs was a big reason CK nearly advanced back to the district tournament, as the junior could mark just about any opposing offensive threat. He’ll be a big returning piece to a team losing some valuable seniors.
D – Johnny Baggett, Bainbridge, senior – When you’re named the MVP of the league, it’s pretty obvious you can play defense.
This senior co-captain earned the title of Metro League MVP with his heady play in the back.
He kept opponents off balance, he cleared balls out of the back and marked up against the best in the league, keeping them from dominating the game.
With his help, the Bainbridge defense allowed just 17 goals in 19 games – an average of less than a goal a game – and posted eight shutouts.
A future attendee of Willamette University, he also made the Seattle P-I’s All-Star team.
Baggett was also a All-Metro first team selection.
D – Bryan Heath, South Kitsap, senior – Bergeson likes to build his team around its defenders and the Wolves were strong again back there this season with Heath and Jesse Askew.
“Bryan Heath is the most impressive player mentally and physically that I’ve coached,” Bergeson said.
GK – Devin Langaker, Kingston, senior – Langaker is a goalie who can carry a team. During the Bucs run for a state title and all throughout the season, Langaker was there for the key save.
He helped the Buccaneers tally 10 shutout games and ensured only .55 goals per game were scored against Kingston.
Coach of the Year – George Vukic, Bainbridge – He lost his best player in Dylan Tucker-Ganges to Crossfire Academy, the premier select soccer program in the state, two games into the season.
It could have put a damper on the team’s playoff chances.
Instead, Vukic regrouped the team, spread the attack out and guided the Spartans to an almost undefeated regular season, a Metro League Mountain Division title (the first in school history) and their first state appearance since 2001 – all in his second year of coaching at BHS.
He was named the Metro League Coach of the Year.
Also stellar
Max Aussendorf, Bainbridge, senior, MF – This senior used his fleet feet to put some sweet moves on opposing defenders, dribbling the ball past him on his way to the goal.
He scored four times and assisted on another as he helped Bainbridge to a division title and make it to state for the first time since 2001.
Aussendorf was named as a All-Metro first team selection.
Dana Olson, Bainbridge, senior, MF – This senior was another threat to score or make the pass to find a teammate to put one in at the back of the net.
He had two goals and an assist as he helped Bainbridge stay undefeated for most of the regular season.
Olson was named a All-Metro first team selection.
Josh “JJ” Gilson, Kingston, senior, F – Gilson was the third-highest scorer for the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas with nine goals and nine assists for 27 points. He accomplished all this in just 10 league games.
Nate May, North Kitsap, junior, GK – One of the top keepers in the Narrows League, May had an outstanding season, as his save ratio was 3-to-1.
Derek Conway-Newton, Olympic, senior, MF – As Oly’s field general, Conway-Newton was one of the top physical presences in the Olympic League.
Grant Rico, Central Kitsap, junior, GK – Rico was stalwart between the posts for the Cougars, logging every minute in the goal this season.
Tucker Moran, Klahowya, senior, MF – A co-captain alongside Reinertson, Moran too was a key player in helping the Eagles stay in close games.
Ritchie Danskin, Bremerton, senior, MF – A team captain, Danskin logged serious minutes in the middle-third of the field. He created opportunities for teammates, often shadowed the opponents’ major offensive threats and offered field leadership.
Brian Paulsen, King’s West, senior, F – Paulsen might have taken the field for the final time in November, but his contributions still garner mention on the All-Kitsap County team.
He was the Warriors’ leading goal scorer and took top honors in the SeaTac League.
Jesse Askew, South Kitsap, junior, D – Askew was one of the primary reasons the Wolves never allowed more than two goals in a match this season.
Chris Hall, Kingston, senior, MF – Hall is an all-around athlete and academic star. The team captain scored six goals and four assists this season making him one of the region’s top 25 scorers.
Jake Pedersen, North Kitsap, senior, MF – Pedersen was a key cog in the North Kitsap midfield, leading the team in assists with 12.
Thomas Bryan, Olympic, sophomore, GK – Despite being just a sophomore, Bryan was the main reason Olympic repeated as the top 3A team in the Olympic League.
Colin Barry, Central Kitsap, senior, D – Barry was another key cog in a tough Cougar defense that held opponents to just more than a goal a game.
John McLaughlin, Klahowya, junior, D – Another of Kitsap’s tough defenders, McLaughlin was a vocal leader for the Eagles as well, joining two seniors as a co-captain.
Matt Olson, Bremerton, sophomore, MF – One of the Knights’ field generals, Olson finished second on the team to Garcia in goals, assists and total points. In 11 games he scored five goals and dished out six assists, good for 16 total points.
Tim Flugstad, King’s West, senior, MF – Another versatile weapon, Flugstad could control the middle of the field or drop back on defense.
Nico de la Cruz, South Kitsap, sophomore, MF – On a senior-laden squad, de la Cruz was one of the few significant contributors as an underclassman. He scored one goal and added five assists this season.
Ashy Carlson, North Kitsap, junior, F – A true team asset, Carlson led his team in goals with nine and is the region’s 11th best scorer, adding one assist for 19 points.
Daniel Lathrop, South Kitsap, junior, GK – He recorded seven shutouts this season, but that number could’ve been higher.
