On Saturday December 5th the PASL Northwest kicks off another season. This go-round there are five clubs in the division: Central Oregon, Puget Sound Soccer Academy (Bellingham), Snohomish, Tacoma and Wenatchee. The PASL has been around in our area for going on five years in one form or another.
The Tacoma Stars travel to face PSSA in Bellingham this weekend, on Saturday December 5th. The Snohomish Skyhawks will begin their season on December 12th when they host PSSA. I spoke with a few Snohomish Skyhawks players and head coach to learn more about the club and their prospects for the season.
Vasco Rubio is the head coach of the Skyhawks, who play out of the Snohomish Soccer Dome. In previous seasons the Skyhawks have been one of the top clubs in the Northwest. "We are going to be a young team," says Rubio of his 2009-10 Skyhawks. "A lot of newcomers learning the indoor game. I think we will have good team speed and work ethic. But there will be some growing pains. I have a few returnees that add some balance and leadership. As of right now the goalkeeper situation is a little up in the air. I have four that I kept from tryouts and they are pushing each other for the job."
The name of the game in indoor is getting goals, and Rubio is hopeful the SKyhawks will be balanced on offense. "Scoring hopefully will come from various places but the one guy I am hoping to carry some of the load is Shane Decker. He as been with the Skyhawks for three or four years now and as played in the NPSL and the CISL. I think our guys will have to develop an identity. I have a lot of what I call 'Green Peas.' If they blend well with the veterans I think our team speed and patience is something that will helps us."
The Skyhawks rely on local players from the north sound area. "Most of the players on our team are local talent. Mostly from North Seattle all the way up to Mount Vernon. We had a great tryout with about 40 kids coming out. Our range of age is 18 to 44. So it's a wide spread."
The range in experience is seen in two Skyhawks players I had a chance to talk with, rookie attacker Jeffers Haile and veteran defender Jim Kessler.
"I wanted to see if I could make it at this level. I figured if I made it, I would be playing at a higher level and in turn become a better player. This seemed like a great opportunity and I am glad I tried out," says Haile of his effort to make the Skyhawks. "I have played in leagues at Snohomish Soccer Dome since I was 14. I have played mens open and co-ed open leagues. I have also played in a lot of tournaments at the dome. None of these compared to even the tryouts of the Skyhawks, it is a completely different level. The team looks solid. All of the returners are really good, and they all help us "rookies." We also have a great coach that is preparing us very well for the upcoming season." See the entire Skyhawks roster list here.
Kessler sees the upcoming season through the eyes of experience. I asked him what his favorite Skyhawks moment has been over the last few seasons. "I think for all players and coaches, winning is the best moment. Seeing the fruits of your labor have a rewarding end product. That being said, the best club moment was playing the Tacoma Stars at Tacoma for the Championship during the 2007-2008 winter season. Several of us were injured (myself included) and could not play. We had a couple of younger guys that had to fill bigger roles and they came through. Jay Kendall scored the game winner off a set piece with 3 seconds to play and the victory propelled us to the National Championiships. A very big moment for the Snohomish Skyhawks."
Kessler has seen the changes the PASL Northwest has gone through over the years. "Teams have come and gone but the league is here to stay. I think with the addition of the Pro League there are some real possibilities for the younger guys. It started out as a competative league but it has developed into an avenue for many of the young guys to be scouted and have the potential to get to the next level. We have seen that with the Stars and a select number of the Wenatchee Fire guys".
The Skyhawks will rely on Kessler to keep their back line under control. "I play in the defense because it is a controling position. I can either spark a counter or control the ball and set a pace of play. I like to get control of the situation and direct the offense from the defense. I know what the guys in front of me are capable of, so I like to work to their strengths. Defensively, I just like to stop their opportunities and get back to the offense. Offense scores goals but defense will win championships."
I asked Kessler who the Skyhawks biggest rivals are, though I already had a feeling that I knew the answer. "It would have to be the (Tacoma) Stars. I watched the Stars when I was a kid, Preki, Zungul, etc. They have a reputation to maintain and neither team will give in when we play. I know the I-5 rivals should be Tacoma and Seattle or Portland, but this is the best rivalry in the PASL NW. We know everything about each other."
Flashback: The Tacoma Stars play defense in this photo from the classic loser out playoff match-up with the Snohomish Skyhawks. The game was won by the Skyhawks 6-5 with a free kick goal as the clock expired. Over 700 fans saw the match at a sold-out Tacoma Soccer Center.(Jenni Conner)
Back to the Skyhawks' head coach. Vasco Rubio takes time to think about the division race. With only eight matches to decide it, every contest is crucial. "I think as far as our division goes Tacoma is the team leading the way, and if you want to win the division you are going to have to play them well. From there it's all about who travels well and protecting your home turf. In this league traveling puts a lot of burden on some teams. Trips to Bend are tough and a lot of times you are not taking a full squad. For me the divisions is a four team race for 2nd. It all goes back to my earlier comment on who travels well."
Rubio has been with the Skyhawks since their inception over five years ago. He has a background with the indoor game. "I played for many years professionally in the CISL watching and learning from guys like Preki, Tatu, Brian Schmetzer, and Fernando Clavijo, to name a few. The game is very fast-paced and much like hockey. I try to teach our guys patience and awareness. Indoor to me is all about creating mistakes and from that you get your opportunities to capitalize. Our league is a developmental league so I also try to instill in these guys some professional attitude. If they get to the next level, they will be ready for what is thrown at them."
Skyhawks home match tickets are $5. They sell food during matches at the Snohomish Soccer Dome.
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Comments
GREAT to see some ink for our boys up north!
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