Junior goaltender Brian Roberts is one of 11 returning letter winners for the CHS boys soccer squad. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
One last chance to take down the big dog.
As the Coupeville High School boys soccer team enters its fourth, and final, season in the 1A Olympic League, the Wolves will once again be on the chase to topple Klahowya.
The Eagles have been the dominant program in the conference, and boast a 21-0 mark in league play across the past three seasons.
Meanwhile, the Wolf booters have three consecutive third-place finishes, meaning they need to knock off Port Townsend as well as KSS.
“Klahowya has qualified for the state tournament the last few years and is always the team to beat in our league,” said Coupeville coach Kyle Nelson.
“Port Townsend has had our number the last couple of years, but we will be looking forward to our continued tight rivalry.”
The Wolves have a 15-game schedule, kicking off the season by helping debut their school’s new stadium Saturday, Mar. 10 against 2A Olympic.
Growth and development will go hand-in-hand with trying to notch wins.
“My goal is to form a well-organized, disciplined, exciting to watch squad,” Kyle Nelson said. “And with anyone who watches us play this year seeing improvement through the course of the season.
“I would like to finish with a winning record and a berth to the district playoffs.”
Coupeville’s biggest strength will be its veteran players, as the Wolves return 11 letter winners from last year’s squad.
Senior midfielders William Nelson, a three-time All-Conference pick, and Ethan Spark head up the team as captains.
Joining them are senior defenders Laurence Boado, Hunter Downes and Axel Partida, junior defenders Uriah Kastner and Teo Keilwitz and junior goaltenders Dewitt Cole and Brian Roberts.
Sophomore midfielders Aram Leyva and James Wood round out the key returnees.
“We are returning quite a few starting varsity players in most positions on the field,” Kyle Nelson said. “We also have a number of players who played with a select team in the off-season.
“So, we have experience on our side this year.”
Leyva and Spark are the top returning goal scorers, as each beat rival goalies six times a year ago.
William Nelson (4), Downes (2), Wood (2) and Boado (1) also found the back of the net in 2017.
Coupeville’s coaching staff, which includes first-year assistant Luke Pelant, a former All-Conference player for the Wolves before his graduation in 2013, is also hopeful of getting help from several newcomers.
“We will also be looking to incorporate some new players who look to be important to our team,” Kyle Nelson said. “But it can take a while for both the defense and the new players to fully integrate.”
Three who have a solid shot at seeing consistent playing time are foreign exchange student Pedro Gamarra, sophomore Derek Leyva and freshman Sam Wynn.
The first two can slide between playing at the forward and midfield slots, while the young gun is a defender.
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