Orcas Island wins second straight boys soccer state championship

By Declan O’Malley

Sounder contributor

The Orcas Island High School Vikings boys soccer team is once again champions of the Washington Class 2B soccer world after winning their second consecutive state title, defeating St. George’s 1-0 on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High School.

The match’s only goal came in the fourth minute when Joaquin Shanks-Morales played a ball into the 18-yard box, and junior Conejo-Medina finished it into the far side of the net. The Vikings’ defense, led by standout goalkeeper Tim Malo, held St. George scoreless to secure the program’s third state championship. The win capped off a dominant postseason run.

Head coach Terry Turner praised his team’s dominant performance throughout the season and in the state playoffs. “Orcas was 12 goals for and one against in state playoffs,” said Turner, who guided the Vikings to a 19-1-2 record with 101 goals scored and only nine allowed. Their lone loss came late in the postseason, but Turner emphasized the consistency and resilience that carried the team to another championship.

“It was a great State Final tournament. There were no surprising upsets in the quarter-finals, so the best four teams in the state, which were very evenly matched, were in it. Lots of ties and win/lose combos between the various teams earlier in the season,” said Turner.

The Vikings reached the state final after a commanding 6-1 semifinal win, thanks to an offensive surge that saw OIHS score six goals while allowing just one to Evergreen Lutheran, a team the Vikings tied 2-2 at the end of the regular season.

OIHS also finished the season with several accolades. Shanks-Morales was voted All-League MVP, seven Vikings were selected to the All-League first or second teams, Malo earned All-League First Team Goalkeeper and the program received the All-League Sportsmanship Award.