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Archive for the ‘Boys Soccer’ Category

Michael Kelley

Matthew Kelley heads on to the pitch. (Pat Kelley photos)

Jake Mitten

No one is getting the soccer ball back until Jake Mitten (5) is ready to let go of it.

aram

Sage Downes (far left) and Aram Leyva (17) discuss strategy.

The effort was there, just not the victories.

Despite putting up a strong effort, the North Whidbey Islanders FC-01 boys’ soccer squad, which features a number of Coupeville booters, dropped three of four games in Redmond last weekend.

Whidbey wraps its summer season in two weeks with an appearance at the Rimland Classic in Bellingham.

Playing against top-level competition in Redmond, the Islanders netted a scoreless tie against a Crossfire Select squad in the highlight of their weekend.

They had a ton of shots, many from close range, but couldn’t quite pull the trigger enough times to make a run deep into tourney play.

In the team’s three losses, Coupeville’s Matthew Kelley netted a goal off of a corner kick, while Aram Leyva notched an assist on a different score.

Fellow Wolves Sam Wynn, Michael Laska, Sage Downes and Jake Mitten all chipped in with strong play, with Wynn making a stellar impression on defense.

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Zane Bundy operates up in the clouds early in his high school career. (John Fisken photo)

   Zane Bundy operates up in the clouds early in his high school career. (John Fisken photo)

They saved their best for last.

Capping a stellar four-day run at the Nike Crossfire Challenge in Redmond, the Washington Rush select soccer squad won a pair of thrillers Monday to claim a title in the mens’ U19 gold group.

The team, which counts Coupeville High School senior Zane Bundy as a captain, finished the tourney with a 3-0-2 record.

After winning its group, the Rush faced off with Crossfire Oregon 97 Black in the semifinals.

Oregon came in to the match with a flawless 3-0 mark from group play, but couldn’t get a ball past the Rush and fell 1-0.

That sent Bundy and Co. into the finals against Tynecastle FC, and the Rush repeated the earlier success with another 1-0 victory to grab the championship banner.

The tourney, which drew teams from all across the western states, as well as Canada, is a showcase where players get a chance to play in front of college scouts.

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Zane Bundy, well-dressed booter. (John Fisken photo)

Zane Bundy, well-dressed booter. (John Fisken photo)

Zane Bundy is busy dazzling the college scouts.

The Coupeville High School soccer ace spent the weekend playing in the Nike Crossfire Challenge in Redmond, considered the premier youth tourney in the Pacific Northwest.

With Bundy leading the way as a team captain, he and his Washington Rush teammates swept to first-place in Bracket B of the U19 Gold Group and will play in the semifinals Monday.

The Rush (1-0-2) will face off with Crossfire Oregon 97 Black (3-0-0) at 10 AM. Win and they advance to the championship game at 2:15.

That game would pit them against the winner of the other semifinal match-up, between Tynecastle FC (1-0-2) and Pacific Northwest SC (2-1-0).

Bundy’s squad opened with a 3-2 victory Friday over Highline Premier FC, then held on for a pair of hotly-contested 1-1 draws Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament draws select teams from multiple states (Washington, California, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Alaska, Utah and Montana) as well as Canada.

The 2014 tournament boasted more than 500 teams spread out over the various age groups and the games are closely-watched by representatives from multiple colleges.

Bundy, who was named a captain for next year’s Wolf squad (he’ll share duties with fellow senior Tanner Kircher) is just getting back into the flow of the game, having recently recovered from a leg injury that cost him most of his junior season.

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Jose Marcos

Jose Marcos

Jose Marcos is a young man on the rise.

A strong two-sport (soccer, football) athlete, he’s one of those kids who plays his heart out on the field, then reverts to being an easy-going, friendly guy once the game is done.

Watching him interact with his soccer mates in the stands before and after games, you can see his sunny personality shine through. He’s just a good dude.

As Jose celebrates a birthday today, we want to wish him all the best.

May cake rain down on you all day long.

And, for those who want to know a bit more about him, pop over and take a look at this story I wrote back in early 2014:

https://coupevillesports.com/2014/03/19/fueled-by-friends-marcos-thrives-in-two-sports/

Now you know. And knowing is half the battle.

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(Pat Kelley photo)

The future of Wolf boys’ soccer. (Pat Kelley photo)

Kalia (left) and Mia Littlejohn. (Dawn Hesselgrave photo)

Kalia (left) and Mia Littlejohn. (Dawn Hesselgrave photo)

Heat or no heat, there was soccer to be played.

Bouncing around the state this weekend, Coupeville booters found tournament play awaiting them at every destination.

Mia and Kalia Littlejohn were in Bellingham, where they and their teammates on the Northwest United GU16 squad played in the Baker Blast.

The team stormed to a pair of 3-2 wins in the early going, bouncing Burnaby District Metro Select and Gorge FC, with Mia Littlejohn scoring a pair of goals in the opener.

Northwest United ultimately claimed second in the GU16 premier division, falling to West Vancouver 2-0 in the final.

It was the closest any team came to toppling the unbeaten juggernauts.

The boys were busy too, as the young Wolves on the North Whidbey Islanders FC-01 squad played in the Rainer Slam.

Missing six players, the Islanders had no bench and were battered by severe heat, falling 5-1, 4-1 and 7-0.

Jake Mitten and Aram Leyva teamed up in game one on a beautiful, all-Wolf goal.

Leyva, fighting through three defenders, came off the turf to find Mitten, who popped home a short shot that the goalie never saw coming.

Fellow Coupeville booter Matthew Kelley set up his team’s goal in game two, knocking a pair of defenders to the ground before sliding the ball onto the waiting foot of a teammate for the tap-in.

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