Coupeville Sports

They came by car… (Kerry Rosenkranz photos)

and ferry.

Though Becca Pabona thought about flying there. (Kenzie Perry photo)

Getting there was half the battle.

Playing the day after Coupeville High School’s Tolo dance, with most of the ferry routes bothered by high winds, getting the entire GU17 Whidbey Islanders soccer team to the Kitsap Country Fairgrounds Sunday was more of a battle than normal.

Once they were on the field and playing, the Islanders combined ball control and often-superb goal-tending to stay close, but couldn’t pull the trigger on offense. A disputed goal ended up being the difference in a tough 1-0 loss to Tracyton Velocity.

The goal came despite Islander net-minder Kenzie Perry’s apparent save.

Perry snagged the ball, was slammed into by an opposing player and watched it pop loose, then recovered it on the ground. At that point, a Velocity player poked it out of her hands (not legal, but unseen by the ref) and a waiting teammate knocked the suddenly loose ball into the back of the net.

“A very disappointing, undeserved loss,” said Whidbey coach Sean LeVine. “Once again it is clear to anyone who saw that game today that we had the more talented team, but once again, getting the results to prove that escaped us.”

Whidbey had multiple chances to even the score, but misfired on a shot at an open net in the second half and could never quite get over the hump.

Ayla Muller earned the team’s hustle award for the day, bouncing from goalie in the first half to playing the field in the second.

“She had a beautiful diving save in the first half,” LeVine said. “She covered a lot of ground today and gave us several more chances.”

Despite the loss, LeVine has been pleased with the season-long commitment his squad, one of the youngest in the league, has offered.

“It is a testament to your character and the bond of this team that you all still show up to three practices a week, a game (or two) every weekend, dance in parking lots together, make funny videos together, and you continue to show improvement week after week despite some disappointing results this season,” he wrote on his team’s Facebook wall. “Our future is bright! Keep fighting, keep having fun and we win everyday no matter the results of the match!”