Coupeville Sports

Micky LeVine, far left, scored the deciding goal Saturday. (Kali Barrio photo)

In the middle of brutality, they found beauty.

Playing on a soccer field that was closer to an ice rink and facing a team that reveled in nastiness, the Whidbey Islanders GU17 soccer squad pulled off a dazzling win Saturday.

With goals from Kendra Warwick and Micky LeVine lighting the spark, the Islanders swatted the visiting Issaquah Arsenal 2-1 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score might sound.

“While both teams struggled for footing on the ice rink that was Ft. Nugent Park today, we were still able to out-possess and out-hustle the other team,” said coach Sean LeVine. “We dominated possession and had several opportunities on their goal. They, on the other hand only had a few on our end.

“I’m very happy with how we played and I suspect that if we played them on a better surface the final score would be a lot more lopsided in our favor,” he added.

With the icy conditions perhaps freezing the part of their brains where the conscience resides, the Issaquah players came out in a bad mood, whacking the Islanders around on virtually every play. That philosophy immediately backfired, however, as it set up Whidbey’s first goal.

A foul gave the Islanders a free kick and Jennifer Spark smartly faked out the defenders, then fed Warwick with a beautiful pass. Warwick promptly blasted the ball past the hapless goaltender, setting off a celebration.

“It was a work of art,” Sean LeVine said of the goal.

His own flesh and blood then put the game on ice (ha ha…), as Micky LeVine punched in a goal after being set up by two of her teammates.

Becca Pabona and Ayla Muller combined for a crowd-pleasing give-and-go down the sideline, with Pabona crossing to LeVine, who converted faster than any ’80s music fans could chant “Oh Micky, you’re so fine, you’re so fine, you blow my mind!!”

Issaquah only got on the board late in the game when an Islander player finally tired of the physical play and took out an opposing player in retaliation. The ensuing free kick deflected off a Whidbey defender and flopped into the net.

Now 1-1-1 on the season, the Islanders return to their home field 11 AM Sunday for a State Cup game. That causes a bit of a conflict for their coach, as the Seattle/Atlanta football playoff game kicks off an hour earlier.

“I know, I know, it’s during the Seahawks game,” LeVine said, before warning, “But it’s OK, I’m DVRing it … so no spoilers!!”