Coupeville Sports

(Kali Barrio photos)

How dangerous is Micky LeVine on the soccer pitch? She doesn’t even need her feet to score a goal.

Capping her team’s “best soccer of the year,” LeVine used her thigh to re-direct a cross from Ayla Muller into the back of the net Saturday, earning the Whidbey Islanders GU17 squad a hard-earned 1-1 tie.

Coming against a much-older Seattle United Shoreline team (a true U18 squad while the Islanders only have one 17-year old on their squad), the game also marked the first time Whidbey had its full 15-woman roster to call on.

That changed, unfortunately, when Selina Medina fractured her right foot when she connected with a rival player’s shin guard right as she unleashed a rocket shot.

“She will be missed,” said Islander coach Sean LeVine. “But she’ll be back; she is one of the toughest young ladies I know.”

Seattle got on the board first, banging home a shot from 12 yards out that barely slid past the Islander goaltender. From that point on, though, it was lights-out time for the Whidbey defense.

“Our girls possessed the ball for probably 75% of the match, and played that much on their half,” LeVine said. “It seemed like everything we’ve been working on for the past few months finally clicked. Our defense solidified and their two best players were a non-factor for the rest of the game.”

Islander defenders Alyssa Cross and Paige Waterman led the defensive stand, clamping down on anything, and anyone, who wandered into their territory.

“They had great games, shutting those players down and creating many opportunities with good passing and forward runs,” LeVine said.

Muller and LeVine teamed up for their score in the game’s 70th minute and the Islanders continued to rain down other shots that just missed. Kendra Warwick lobbed in several corner kicks to Waterman and Matti Miesle faked out the goalie and set up a shot for Muller that went wide by the slimmest of margins.

With a strong team effort and a tie against a ferocious team, LeVine exited the weekend quite pleased. Adding to his joy — a bigger cheering section.

“Our fan base is growing as we had several Coupeville and Oak Harbor High School boys and girls out to watch yesterday and today and parents who don’t have kids on the team,” LeVine said. “My friend Bob Martin came out to watch, and he said “Wow! I didn’t realize how intense soccer is!”