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Toasty temps, sweet success

Posted in Boys Soccer, tagged boys soccer, CHS Wolves, Edmund Wilson, Grace Academy, Liam Lawson, road trip on September 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“Am I going to shoot with my right foot, or my left? Doesn’t matter, cause I’m deadly with both!” (Jacob Lujan photo)

The day was hot, while the Wolves were scorching.

It was 89 degrees on the turf in Marysville Tuesday, but the heat never bothered the visiting Coupeville High School boys’ soccer team.

Banging home their first scores of the young season, the Wolves slipped past host Grace Academy 2-1 in a nail biter, raising their record to 1-2.

Coupeville controlled the pace of play most of the way, with their private school foes netting their lone goal off of a penalty kick late in the going.

Other than that, it was all Wolves, all the time.

“We put some changes and plays in action,” said Coupeville coach Jim Kunz. “They came out strong from the beginning. Communication and passing was much better.”

Shiloh Sandlin clear the net. (Julie Wheat photo)

The Wolves kept the Grace goalie jumping all day, with Edmund Wilson finding the back of the net off of a pass from Sawyer Rudat, before picking up the assist on a score by Liam Lawson.

It was the first high school goal for both Wolves, with Wilson becoming the third member of his family to score in a CHS uniform.

His older brothers, Aidan and Cael, finished their prep pitch careers with 13 goals apiece, tying them for 7th best in program history.

Lawson, a freshman whiz kid, is part of a legendary prairie family which includes athletic standouts such as grandpa Dale Sherman, aunt Katie Smith, and mom “Killer” Kassie (Lawson) O’Neil.

The Wolves get back at it Friday, Sept. 19, with a home soccer doubleheader at Mickey Clark Field.

Pitch powerhouse Mount Vernon Christian is the foe, with the girls game at 4:00 PM and the boys kicking off at 6:00. Admission is free.

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Booters bounce into new season

Posted in Boys Soccer, tagged boys soccer, CHS Wolves, Friday Harbor, Sage Arends, season opener on September 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Sage Arends, seen in action last season, is a captain for Coupeville High School boys’ soccer. (Finn Price photo)

They jumped right into the fire.

Playing with a short bench Tuesday, the Coupeville High School boys’ soccer squad kicked off a new season with a long road trip to face one of the best in the state.

Scrapping on Friday Harbor, the young Wolves stayed close for a half, before their high-caliber hosts piled on the goals after halftime in what finished as an 8-0 rout.

Despite the loss, new Wolf coach Jim Kunz came away pleased with a lot of what he saw from his players.

“We have a young team this season. They played solid in the first half against a tough team,” he said. “With only two subs, the guys were worn out partway through the second half.

“I’m proud of their play and dedication. We’re excited to make some adjustments and come in strong next game.”

Coupeville, which graduated a strong pack of seniors, has no 12th graders on this year’s roster.

But, with three juniors, five sophomores, two freshman, and five 8th graders, the potential for growth is great.

While defender Jacob Lujan is out for the season with a broken ankle, the Wolves will get some additional help when captain Sage Arends returns from a concussion.

Continuing a trend of playing legitimate state title contenders right out of the gate, Coupeville hosts Orcas Island this Saturday, Sept. 13 in the home opener.

Kickoff is set for 12:30 PM at Mickey Clark Field.

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Booters lose leader

Posted in Boys Soccer, tagged boys soccer, CHS Wolves, pandemic, resignation, Robert Wood on March 26, 2025| 1 Comment »

Robert Wood strolls the sideline. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

He kept the program operating through a pandemic, but now the time has come to depart the soccer pitch.

On a full-time basis, at least.

Coupeville High School head boys’ soccer coach Robert Wood has tendered his resignation after five seasons at the helm.

The decision is based on “new job and family commitments (which) require too much time away to continue as head coach.”

Wood pledged he’d still be around and volunteer when able.

He issued the following letter to parents, players, and team supporters:

After a long debate and careful consideration, I send you this note announcing my intent to resign as the head coach for CHS Soccer.

I have a new job since December 2024, and over the past few months it’s become clear that the increased regular travel requirements along with expanded daily commitments will prohibit me from giving the team everything you deserve.

It is not fair to you as a player, the team, nor all the families for me to hold the position and not be able to give it the attention required.

As you can imagine, this decision was not easy to come by as I’ve given so much energy and emotion to building our program over the past 15 years.

Working with CWSC and studying under the previous CHS soccer coaches has been such a rewarding experience.

Every player, every coach, every member of the staff at CHS (in particular Mrs. Ford, who supported me to no end with a smile and the utmost grace) have helped me create a truly unique soccer culture in Coupeville.

I am eternally grateful to the support and trust everyone has given me over the years.

As I step down as the head coach, please realize this opens up a great opportunity for new ideas and new leadership at a time when our sport is rising in popularity and our team culture exudes a rapport envied by every other school in our league.

Rest assured that I will be supporting the team as a volunteer when my time allows, and I will be participating in the transition and installment of new leadership for the team.

Thank you for the time you have given me.

All my best.

Wood started with CHS soccer as an assistant coach, then stepped up to become head coach when Kyle Nelson retired.

His first year in charge of the boys’ program in 2020 presented multiple issues, with an ongoing pandemic and a struggle to keep a viable roster going.

Wood succeeded in keeping soccer alive, even as boys’ tennis fell by the wayside in Coupeville, and the Wolf booters increased their win total in each of his seasons while playing in the premier 2B/1B league for the sport in Washington state.

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Coupeville league mate wins state soccer title

Posted in Boys Soccer, tagged boys soccer, Lopez Island, Northwest League, Orcas Island, state title on November 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

CHS soccer coach Robert Wood (blue hat) preps his team before a game this season. (Jackie Saia photo)

The Northwest 2B/1B League is back in charge.

Coupeville’s conference re-staked its claim to having the top collection of boys’ soccer teams across the two classifications Saturday afternoon, with Orcas Island toppling Lopez Island 2-0 in Federal Way to win a state title.

It’s the third time in the last four seasons that a NWL squad has captured the crown, with Friday Harbor winning in 2022 and Orcas in 2021.

Upper Columbia Academy, which is playing Providence Classical Christian in the 3rd/4th place game Saturday night, won the title in 2023, momentarily breaking the run.

With Orcas, Lopez, and PCC bringing home trophies, that gives the NWL 11 of the 16 awards handed out in 1B/2B across the past four seasons.

The last time Coupeville’s conference didn’t produce at least half of the final four teams was 2020 … when the pandemic erased all state tournaments.

All four of the NWL teams to make the playoffs survived through bi-district play to make it to state, with Friday Harbor, which edged out CHS and Mount Vernon Christian for the final postseason slot, also advancing.

Those Wolverines were knocked out in the state quarterfinals by Upper Columbia Academy (1-0), while Orcas, Lopez, and PCC all won their big dance openers.

Lopez took out the defending champs 2-1 in the semifinals, winning in a shootout, while Orcas drilled PCC 4-1 in the other matchup.

That set up a third showdown between the Vikings and Lobos.

The teams split their first two meetings, with both coming out on top to a 1-0 tune.

Coupeville, which went 6-8-1 overall, 4-4 in league action, lost 3-1 to Lopez and 5-0 to Orcas this season.

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Wilson wows against fierce foe

Posted in Boys Soccer, tagged Cael Wilson, CHS Wolves, Providence Classical Christian, road trip, Soccer on October 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Cael Wilson (in headband) celebrates a goal with his teammates. (Finn Price photo)

Cael Wilson is making a run at family scoring supremacy.

The Coupeville High School senior, who is the only soccer player in school history to have scored a goal in five seasons, rattled home two more scores Tuesday in Bothell.

While Wilson’s outburst wasn’t enough to topple pitch powerhouse Providence Classical Christian, which claimed a 7-2 win in a non-conference soccer game between Northwest 2B/1B League rivals, it did propel the ginger sniper up the scoring chart.

His two-goal day gives him a team-best five tallies this season, and 11 for his prep career.

That ties Cael Wilson for #8 all-time on the CHS boys’ scoring chart with Zane Bundy, while leaving him just two goals shy of older brother Aidan Wilson, who punched in 13 goals during his run in the red and black.

Preston Epp leads the charge. (Bailey Thule photo)

Tuesday’s goals came off of assists from Preston Epp and Angel Partida.

Wilson’s first score was fired from the far corner, while on the second scoring run, he exchanged short passes with Partida, then slapped home a left foot shot to the corner of the net.

Providence, which finished third at the 2B/1B state tourney a year ago, has a potent scoring attack, but Coupeville coach Kimberly Kisch praised the play of her goalie, senior Hurlee Bronec.

“As always, Hurlee was a rock star, making big saves,” she said.

Now 2-4-1 on the season, Coupeville wrapped its non-conference schedule Tuesday and begins league play Oct. 11 with a road trip to Cedar Park Christian-Lynnwood.

The Wolves have eight conference games ahead, including a rematch with Providence, as they chase a playoff spot while competing in the premier 2B/1B soccer league in the state.

Kisch, and fellow Wolf coach Robert Wood experimented a bit Tuesday, using the game as a learning exercise.

“With the final non-league game, we tried some new things with our lineup,” Kisch said. “It didn’t work out, but we gleaned valuable information about their defensive line.

“I am confident that when we see Providence again on our field, we will have a much different outcome.”