Not enough players? We’re good!!

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Not enough players? We’re good!!

December 7, 2014 by David Svien

Kenzie Perry was lights-out in goal for the Islanders Saturday.

Soccer is normally played with 11 to a side.

Don’t tell that to the GU19 Whidbey Islanders select soccer squad, which started with 10 Saturday, finished with nine, and still almost won its game against a tough foe.

Despite being two players down for much of the second half, the Islanders only surrendered a goal on a place kick — set up by an inadvertent trip — falling 1-0 to visiting Seattle United South.

Not bad for a game in which Whidbey was missing stars like Erin Rosenkranz, Jenn Spark, Jacki Ginnings, Paige Waterman, Kendra Warwick, Ayla Muller and leading scorer Jacalyn Hefflefinger due to a combination of injuries, illness and absence.

Things got chippy when Bailee Olson was lost in the second half with a pulled hamstring, dropping the Islanders down to nine. Even then, though, they didn’t break.

“It was a very, very interesting game and our girls played their butts off!,” said Whidbey coach Sean LeVine. “They believed until the last second that we would get a goal or two.

“The loss is always tough, but given the circumstances, I think we won something more today and our team as a whole improved.”

Whidbey had its chances to net a tying goal, but Seattle United was able to escape at the last second each time.

Gillian Crossley went one-on-one with the rival goalie twice, just missing, while Lydia Peplinski beat the goalie but was pulled just wide and had her shot redirected by a scrambling defender.

With several starters sidelined, many Islanders ended up playing in different spots than normal. All stepped up.

“Morgan Zylstra played left back today, stepped in, and did wonderful,” LeVine said. “Gillian, Lydia and Bailee all had a chance at right back and did well.

“Big props to Lydia today who played center mid, right back, and striker, and did it all very well,” he added. “Also, to Kenzie Perry, who played goal for the full 90 and had too many saves to count. She deserved the shut out, but that darn PK was taken well.”