Coupeville Sports

   Mia Littlejohn, seen here sacrificing her noggin for CHS, played in a select soccer tourney in California this weekend. (John Fisken photo)

California invasion, successful.

Coupeville High School junior booter Mia Littlejohn played four games in three days this weekend, helping the Bellingham Rangers finish 3rd in an eight-team flight at the Pleasanton Rage Tournament.

Littlejohn was one of four guest players for the Rangers, who finished 2-1-1 at the tourney.

Bellingham was one of two select girls’ soccer teams reppin’ Washington state, with the Rush G99 squad taking the tourney title.

There were five Californian teams and one squad from Utah also in their flight.

The Rangers absorbed their only loss Friday, when they were nipped 1-0 by Outlaws FC ’00G Black of Utah.

That was the only goal Bellingham gave up during the tourney.

Saturday was a rebound day, with the Rangers waxing two Cali teams — shutting out Placer United 98G Black 3-0 and slipping past Ajax East Bay AEB 99G 1-0.

Bellingham closed out play Sunday with a hard-fought scoreless tie against Davis Legacy 98 White.

Littlejohn played the entire way in all four games, as the Rangers had no subs for the tourney.

While she had to stay back on Whidbey (she’ll get to see the games later thanks to someone taping them) proud mom Dawn Hesselgrave was over the moon to see her oldest daughter get another crack at playing in a top-tier event.

“Mia really enjoyed playing with the team and the challenge it offered,” Hesselgrave said. “Sometimes you need the challenge in order to keep you interested and motivated.”