Coupeville Sports

Nezi Keiper set up Coupeville’s first goal of the season. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

“It was a good first game overall.”

The Coupeville High School girls soccer team came out on the short end of the score in Thursday’s season-opener at Friday Harbor, but the Wolves came away with a lot of positives.

A 2-1 loss to a Northwest 2B/1B League rival stings a bit, but it’s one game in a 13-game schedule.

There’s plenty of time to work on fine-tuning things.

“We all played well, but we’re a new team so we’re getting used to playing with each other, especially on defense,” said senior Nezi Keiper.

“But I had a few blocks and one of them I did like a slide tackle for.

“Carolyn (Lhamon) was dominating the middle and Ayden (Wyman) was making really good runs.”

Keiper teamed up with Wyman on Coupeville’s first goal of the season, about 10 minutes into the game, with the senior defender setting up the sophomore forward to beat the Wolverine goalie.

The score is the fifth of Wyman’s high school career and moves her into good company.

She’s tied with former Wolves Anna Dion, Britt Harpe, Audrianna Shaw, Jennifer Spark, and Tia Wurzrainer on the all-time CHS girls scoring chart, two goals away from breaking into the top ten.

While Friday Harbor eventually rallied to tie the game before halftime, then edge ahead with a score 20 minutes into the second half, CHS coach Kyle Nelson agreed with Keiper’s assessment.

“It was a tight game, closely battled,” he said. “A great showing for our first game.”

After opening with a conference clash, Coupeville plays its next four games against non-league foes.

First up is an all-Island rumble with 3A Oak Harbor Tuesday, Sept. 13.

That game will go down at Coupeville’s Mickey Clark Field, with a 6 PM kickoff.