Coupeville Sports

Jenn Spark (left) and Ayla Muller both scored goals Sunday. (Kali Barrio photo)

The memory of this one will last for some time. Of course, it’ll have to.

Playing a friendly against visiting GU18 Fuerza FC (Marysville) Sunday, the GU19 Whidbey Islanders select soccer squad was on point and unstoppable.

Raining down goals from every direction, with five players finding the back of the net, the Islanders romped to a 6-0 win to officially tie a bow on the summer season.

Now, the players will disperse to their high school teams (Oak Harbor, Coupeville, South Whidbey) before coming back together in November.

Whidbey has a college showcase tourney after Thanksgiving before starting league play in December.

The Islanders’ summer swan song couldn’t have played out any better, leaving coaches Sean LeVine and Scott Rosenkranz with huge smiles afterwards.

“We were really able to showcase all the areas we’ve worked on this summer,” LeVine said. “The possession, runs off the ball, team defending, and finishing was the best it’s ever been. Great way to finish the summer!”

Whidbey scored early and often, with Jacalyn Hefflefinger punching in two quick goals to pace the attack.

The first came off a “beautiful cross into the six” from Gillian Crossley.

Later Hefflefinger nimbly picked up a ball that bounced off the goalie’s hands on a hard shot from Bailee Olson and tapped it into the back of the net.

Once they had the scent of blood, the Islanders came hard, with Crossley, Ayla Muller, Lydia Peplinski and Jenn Spark all connecting on goals of their own.

Crossley’s was set up by an assist from Kendra Warwick, while Muller launched a free kick 35 yards that zipped through the air, then dove smartly and crept in right under the crossbar.

Up 4-0 coming out of halftime, the Islanders played to maintain possession and keep the clock running, but even then they couldn’t help but score.

Kenzie Perry put a ball right on Peplinski’s noggin, and the young gun headed it past the Marysville goalie, before Spark got downright pretty with the game’s final score.

Running the field, Spark, who had been battling a foot injury recently, made a “beautiful cut back to her left foot,” before shredding the goaltender’s last nerve with a bullet from 20 yards out.

Boom. Back of the net. Summer mission accomplished.