Coupeville Sports

   Sage Renninger scored her second goal of the season Thursday. (John Fisken photo)

“I told these girls the first day of tryouts, they were special. Still feel the same way today, even more so!”

Coupeville High School girls’ soccer coach Troy Cowan has talked his team up all year and they have responded, continuing to play scrappy, intelligent ball even with several starters out with season-ending injuries.

The Wolves capped their regular season Thursday by drilling visiting Port Townsend 3-0, garnering a bit of revenge for an earlier loss to the Redhawks.

The victory also gave CHS (6-6-1 overall, 3-3 in Olympic League play) 2nd place in the final league standings and a home playoff game. Sort of.

As the #2 team from the Olympic League, Coupeville hosts the #3 squad from the Nisqually League, Vashon Island, in a loser-out game Saturday, Nov. 1.

Win that game and the Wolves advance to the double-elimination portion of the district tourney Nov. 4-8.

But, despite earning a home playoff game, Coupeville is still being sent on the road.

The Olympic League requires all district games to be played on turf, and Cow Town boasts natural sod, baby!

So the “home game” will be held at Kingston High School, which is 45 miles away.

Efforts to move the game to Oak Harbor, which does have a turf field and sits less than 10 miles up the road, were unsuccessful. The Wildcats field will be occupied Saturday by an all-day cheer camp.

Being forced to travel a chunk to host a “home” game left Cowan a bit bemused.

“We have a new season to look forward to.  Unfortunately, the Olympic Conference has some strange ways of rewarding their higher seed playoff teams,” he said. “Not sure who gets the home field advantage for this match???

“I can say for certain that CHS doesn’t have the home field advantage.”

Still, he’s not dwelling on the matter.

“Regardless, we are in the playoffs and will be ready to play Vashon Island no matter the location,” Cowan said. “Finishing 2nd is awesome and the entire Coupeville community should be proud of our Lady Wolves and the terrific season we had.

“Not sure I remember when CHS ladies soccer finished with a .500 record across the board.”

Coupeville, which had lost 1-0 at Port Townsend Tuesday, came out firing on this night.

“Best passing and possession match of the year for us,” Cowan said. “They really moved the ball well and played a very intelligent match.

“Even with two defensive gems (Jacki Ginnings and Jenn Spark) missing due to injuries, our defense played really well,” he added. “I think the earlier match certainly provided us with a ton of information.

“They have some solid players, but I was not going to allow the Lady Wolves to let a team come into our house and take away our chance at making history!”

Seniors Erin Rosenkranz and Marisa Etzell each banged home their third goals of the season, while freshman Sage Renninger tallied her second.

Rosenkranz picked up two assists while Renninger recorded the other one.