Danny Savalza (13) battles for the ball, as Josh Wilsey (18) and Sean Donley trail the play. (Janine Bundy photos)
Zane Bundy (left) and Donley confer on strategy.
During JV action, Wolf goalie Connor McCormick guards the net.
Consider it a building block for the future.
With a number of starters out with illness and injury, Coupeville High School boys’ soccer coach Paul Mendes had a chance to give some of his young players, such as freshmen Zane Bundy, Dawson d’Almeida and Tanner Kircher, a fair amount of playing time Tuesday evening.
Unfortunately, with the Wolves’ opponent being one of the best teams in the Cascade Conference, the younguns’ got a bit roughed up, falling 5-0 at Cedarcrest.
The loss dropped Coupeville to 0-2 on the season, 0-1 in league play.
“We played a very good team,” Mendes said. “This is one of the best Cedarcrest teams we have faced in a long time. They should be one of the top teams in the league this year.
“We held up well defensively the first 30 minutes,” he added.
Cedarcrest, now a spiffy 3-0, was led by Kyle Walsh, who banged in a pair of goals. Hunter Montgomery, Jesus Galvan and Connor Viger each found the back of the net, as well, while goalie Elliot Wills blunted the best scoring efforts of the Wolves.
While the final score might not have been what they wanted to see, CHS fans who made the trek off-Island came away pleased with the effort of their team.
When Janine Bundy wasn’t beaming over the fact her son has started both games in his young high school career, she was impressed with the never-say-die style of the older Wolves.
“Like to say (goalie) Kole Kellison was amazing. Just my two cents,” Bundy said. “Brett Arnold and Luke Pelant were life-savers, as well.”
Coupeville returns to action Friday, March 22 at Lakewood, before finally getting its first home game Tuesday, March 26. That game will pit them against Island arch-rival South Whidbey, with JV at 4 PM and varsity at 6.
