Coupeville Sports

      The GU17 squad celebrates, little realizing that #1 fan Ethan Spark (far right, green hat) is photo bombing them. (Kali Barrio photo)

The Steel Curtain came to play.

Sparked by the stellar defensive play of its back line, the Whidbey Islanders GU17 select soccer squad fought to an impressive 0-0 tie against Seattle United SOUTH G’95 on the road Sunday.

The tie, the second in as many days for a squad depleted by injury and illness (they had one sub Sunday after having a completely empty bench a day before), left the Islanders at 1-2-3 on the season.

With both teams firing away at point-blank range, it was Islanders goalie Kenzie Perry and her support group (defenders Jennifer Spark, Jacki Ginnings, Paige Waterman and Alyssa Cross) who stepped up big-time. With Spark laying down beautiful slide tackles on anyone foolhardy enough to enter her territory, the unit was unbreakable.

“Good communication, good movement, great hustle, extremely aggressive and impenetrable once again,” said coach Sean LeVine as he prepared to flee the cold fog of Washington state for a vacation in sunny Cabo.

Before he departed, LeVine was impressed with the way his team hung in, despite still struggling to have a full roster.

“Despite having zero subs yesterday and only one today, the ladies held their own and did not give up,” LeVine said. “If we can hold teams to a draw on our tough days, then we ought to be a force when we are at full strength.”

The Islanders pushed the attack relentlessly in the second half, but couldn’t get a goal to fall. Erin Rosenkranz unloaded a point-blank shot that was snuffed, while Vivien Valles went low with a shot into the corner that the Seattle goalie managed to flick out of the net at the last second.

Along with his stout defense, LeVine also singled out the play of Kendra Warwick, who continues to be a multifaceted threat.

“Kendra continues to be a spark on this team with her speed, hustle, and tenacity,” LeVine said. “She creates a lot of chances for us.”