Coupeville Sports

   Connor McCormick showed “ninja reflexes” while starting in goal Saturday in place of the injured Joel Walstad. (Wendy McCormick photo)

   Jeremiah Pace (17) and Zach Nall (11) put in work during the JV game. (Janine Bundy photo)

It’s been a brutal start.

Three games into the season and the Coupeville High School boys’ soccer squad has faced a pair of 2A schools and a 1A state title contender.

Combined, their three foes went 45-13-2 last year and seem primed to make similar runs this season.

Toss in a handful of injuries — starting Wolf goalie Joel Walstad missed Saturday’s game, a 4-0 non-conference loss at Kingston — and the team’s 0-3 start is not terribly surprising.

But, there are bright spots, and promise that the season can turn around.

Backup goalie Connor McCormick played strongly in place of Walstad, limiting Kingston to just a goal in the first half.

“Connor was AMAZING! The score may not reflect it, but holy cow!!!,” said exuberant Wolf soccer mom Janine Bundy. “Connor had Ninja reflexes!”

CHS coach Kyle Nelson, a bit more, shall we say, low-key, also felt his squad played well for at least part of the game.

“We had a pretty good first half, being down only 1-0,” Nelson said. “Our injuries and being short-handed because of guys not being able to make this game caught up to us in the second half.

“Hopefully we are through our toughest games of the season,” he added. “Though I really have very little info on our next opponent, Cascade Christian. So, we will see.”