The future and the past of Wolf soccer, CHS freshman Dawson d’Almeida and senior Amanda d’Almeida, enjoy Halloween, back when it was still balmy outside.
And now, when snow in the background greeted Dawson and his select soccer teammates in Mt. Vernon yesterday. (Dan d’Almeida photo)
Zane Bundy (foreground), select soccer coach Jose Lecca and, just peeking out, Dawson d’Almeida. (Janine Bundy photo)
The future of Coupeville High School boys’ soccer is on its way, and it’s prepared.
Paul Mendes has already built a state tourney caliber squad in a short time, but it’s the next wave of potential Wolves who could kick the program to a new level. Freshmen like Dawson d’Almeida and Zane Bundy, who are playing select soccer on and off-Island nearly year-round.
The younger d’Almeida is following in the footsteps of big sister Amanda, a Wolf senior who currently suits up for a NW Nationals Red squad which played in Bremerton Sunday morning (giving her parents a chance to “enjoy” a ferry ride in 28-degree weather).
“Maybe triple socks for her fans,” quipped dad Dan d’Almeida, the CHS girls’ soccer coach.
Amanda and her teammates fought to a 2-2 tie against three-time State Cup champ Eastside Red recently, then beat Westsound 2-1 Sunday. The time she has spent in select soccer has propelled her game far ahead of where it would be playing just with her high school team.
It’s a path being trod by other Wolf players as well, from older stars like Josh Wilsey and Luke Pelant to the duo of Bundy and d’Almeida, who wrapped their season with the NW United B15 squad in Mount Vernon Saturday. Garnering a bit of revenge, they pasted Orting 9-0, a team they lost to in the regular season.
“It’s a clear indicator of their massive improvement over the season,” Dan d’Almeida said. “It was a balmy 32 degrees at Mt. Vernon High School and the boys played on basically asphalt-hard turf.
“Now Dawson and Zane have a bit over a month to get themselves rested and ready for the CHS Boys season!”
The B15 squad was coached by Jose Lecca, who played for the Peruvian national team.
Making the jump on the soccer field brings with it a lot of travel and juggling of time, but the d’Almeida family makes it work.
“We end up in Seattle most every weekend for one of the kids’ select games,” Dan d’Almeida said. “Twice a week to Burlington for Dawson (usually with Zane) and twice a week to Lynnwood for Amanda.”
In addition to soccer, Dawson is a veteran of History Day, going to nationals as a middle school student, and currently participates in jazz band and Science Olympiad.
A fan of soccer giants Real Madrid like his dad (his sister and mom, Cathy, root for Barcelona), he also manages to get in time on the PlayStation 3 and has picked up the guitar with the intention of learning Dave Matthews‘ songs.
Coupeville Sports 
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