BIFC collects five championships at Island Cup tourney

Bainbridge Island Football Club recently hosted the ninth annual Island Cup soccer tournament, drawing nearly 90 teams for a hectic weekend of matches.

The yearly contest takes place during the last weekend of August, and 10 Bainbridge soccer fields were reportedly in constant use throughout the tournament.

Including both Island Shield, a high-school age contest held earlier last month, and Island Cup, BIFC officials said 99 teams — about 4,000 people — came to Bainbridge for recent soccer events.

“There were teams from Portland, Wenatchee, Sequim, Port Angeles, Poulsbo, Tracyton and from across the state,” said Ian McCallum, BIFC’s director of coaching. “Next year we’re looking to add some Canadian teams.”

Seventeen BIFC teams participated in the Island Cup tournament, which accommodates both boys and girls teams from U-10 through U-14.

“Of those teams our club was able to boast nine teams that made their way into championship Sunday final games,” McCallum said.

Bainbridge Island G10 Blue were champions, winning 2-1 against Storm King G09 with goals from Magnolia Reynolds and Kiyoko Cozzatti.

After losing a bracket game against Storm King 0-3, BIFC rebounded strongly in the final to turn things around and be crowned Island Cup Champions following the 2-1 win.

Bainbridge Island B09 Blue were also crowned champions, winning 2-1 against Kitsap Alliance B09.

Two goals from Sphiwo Vesseness gave Bainbridge the big win over local rivals from Silverdale. The Bainbridge boys completed the champion hat-trick, having now won all three of their summer tournaments.

“A hugely successful summer for coach Alejandro Henao and the team,” McCallum noted.

Bainbridge Island B08 Blue were deserving gold-bracket champions, winning against Eastside FC Red in shootout after a 1-1 tie in the game. Sam Patterson made a crucial penalty save in the shootout, and Harper Marshall followed by converting the winning kick. An intense game fell Bainbridge’s way as the boys would just not be denied, and beat the opponents from Preston.

Bainbridge Island B08 Black were champions, winning 3-2 against Bainbridge Island FC B08 White.

Two goals from Oreddy Lulelo on either side of a goal from Owen Glynn gave the BIFC Black team boys the edge in a closely contested final against their club mates on the BIFC B08 White team.

“Coach Drew Keller and the boys are another BIFC team able to boast a hat trick of tournament successes this summer,” McCallum said.

Bainbridge Island B06 White were champions, too, winning 3-1 against MRFC B06 White.

BIFC went down early to Mount Rainier FC, but fought back strongly with goals from Mateo Utne, Laird Farrel and Jameson Bregar to ensure the 3-1 win.

Bainbridge island G09 Blue were finalists, losing 2-1 to BUFC G09 with the Bainbridge goal being scored by Magda Rufo-Hill.

The BIFC girls went ahead early in the contest, but BUFC G09 from Bellevue fought back well to take a 2-1 half time lead. The second half brought no further goals as BIFC were edged out of a close encounter 2-1.

Bainbridge Island G08 Blue were also finalists, losing to Wenatchee-based FC G08 in a shootout.

A goal from Taylor Mass took the game to a shootout after a 1-1 tie with the visitors from central Washington. The G08’s rounded out a greatly successful summer, having previously won the Starfire Spring Classic and Crossfire Cup.

Bainbridge Island G07 Blue were finalists, losing 1-0 to Edmonds FC.

Bainbridge Island B08 White were finalists, losing 3-2 to Bainbridge Island FC B08 Black — a narrow loss for the boys as they met another of the B08 teams in the final.

A nip-and-tuck game brought the White team goals from Morgan Robinson and Odin Olson in the boys U-12 final.

Visit www.bifc.net to learn more.