Backup goalie Simon Socha held Meridian scoreless for all 40 minutes he played Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to save an injury-ravaged Coupeville soccer team in a loser-out playoff game. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Those who were still left standing gave everything they had.
An injury-ravaged Coupeville High School boys soccer team finished its loser-out district playoff game Saturday night missing players who accounted for 31 of the 34 goals scored this season.
And yet, even playing with a shattered lineup, the Wolf booters stayed close with Meridian, the #1 seed from the Northwest Conference, before falling 3-1.
The loss, coming on the field at Whatcom Community College, drops Coupeville to 6-10 and ends its season.
In other playoff games Saturday, King’s shocked South Whidbey 3-2 in the district championship game, avenging two regular-season losses, while Mount Baker nipped Lynden Christian 2-1.
Those four teams, along with Meridian, advance to bi-districts, and King’s is already assured of a trip to state.
South Whidbey, which entered the night 13-1, with its only loss to 2A Burlington-Edison, now has to win back-to-back loser-out games or it will miss the big dance.
Thanks mainly to injuries, Coupeville entered play Saturday missing several starters and key reserves, including leading scorer Derek Leyva.
The team’s #2 scorer, Aram Leyva, and starting goaltender Dewitt Cole made it through the first half against Meridian, and then they too went to the bench for good.
Still, the Wolves battled back, with freshman Xavier Murdy banging home his first high school goal in the second half.
Backup goalie Simon Socha and his defense stood tall after the half, holding Meridian scoreless through the game’s final 40 minutes.
“We came back in the second half and had a real good half, beating them for the half,” said CHS coach Kyle Nelson. “Almost a good way to finish out the season.
“Better would have been a win, but a solid half against a very good team is great.”
The playoff loss marked the end of the road for Coupeville’s seniors, as Cole and defenders Teo Keilwitz and Uriah Kastner depart.
The Wolves can return all of their goal scorers from this season, though, as every score was knocked in by an underclassman.
Final scoring totals:
Derek Leyva – 14
Aram Leyva – 10
Sage Downes – 4
Chris Cernick – 2
James Wood – 2
Tony Garcia – 1
Xavier Murdy – 1
Coupeville Sports 
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