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Islanders step up big at hot tourney!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU18 Whidbey Islanders on July 29, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Islanders goalie Kenzie Perry (in yellow) is a little excited. (Kali Barrio photos)

Whidbey strong.

And then the tourney was over and it was time for a nap on the ride home.

Through heat, through missing players, against top-level competition, the Whidbey Islanders GU18 soccer squad refused to break.

Playing at the Crossfore Select Tournament in Redmond over the weekend, the Islanders, sparked by a younger player on loan, became the only silver team to beat a gold-level squad. And they did it with style.

Facing the North Kitsap Blast Sunday, Islander goalie Kenzie Perry was flawless, deflecting shot after shot during a first half barrage. Whidbey almost won the game in regulation, when Paige Waterman sent a ball just a millimeter over the crossbar on a header.

Once in a shootout, it was all Whidbey as Jennifer Spark, Kendra Warwick, Perry and Lydia Peplinski (a guest player from the U15 Whidbey Islanders) all converted, handing their squad a hard-fought and much-deserved 1-0 victory to cap the tourney.

The win capped a run in which the Islanders went 1-1-2. After a draw Friday, they somehow pulled out a 0-0 draw with Fuerza FC High Performance early Saturday morning, despite playing “the roughest-looking first half of soccer I’ve seen them play yet,” according to coach Sean LeVine.

The only bump in the road came in the afternoon game Saturday, when the Islanders fell 3-0 to high-powered FME Fusion. That game was scoreless until the final seconds of the first half, but then a rival player broke out for a hat trick to send her team to the championship game.

LeVine was pleased with his team’s resilience, however, as they continually bounced back against bigger, older squads.

Losing Ayla Muller to an injury in game two didn’t help, as that left the already-depleted Islanders with just one reserve and forced Perry to stay in goal for the entire tourney.

“It was a tough tournament,” LeVine said. “The teams we faced were not as tough as we saw in our last tourney, but it was hot and we were missing several players.”

Numerous players stepped up big-time, headlined by the irrepressible Perry, who commands the field (while keeping one eye out for cameras) while in goal.

“Kenzie stepped up in a big way. Other notable players were Micky LeVine, whose last two games were some of her best soccer we’ve seen yet,” LeVine said. “Jacki Ginnings, who saved our butts probably 50 times this weekend as she flew around the field tackling the ball. Emily Miesle was in Beast Mode almost all weekend and people held their breath every time she touched the ball.

“Kendra was the team leader and was always at the center of the action providing pressure relief for her teammates, directing traffic, and always looking for that killer pass,” he added. “A big thank you to Lydia for filling in for our missing players. She was a huge contributor this weekend and we would not have done near as well without her.”

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Islanders nab tough tie in tourney play!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU18 Whidbey Islanders on July 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »

The many faces of goal-scoring ace Matti Meisle.

The competition is fierce, but so are the sharpshooters on the Whidbey Islanders GU18 soccer squad.

Riding a goal from Matti Miesle (on a beautiful through pass from Kendra Warwick), the Islanders scrapped to a 1-1 draw against Seattle United Shoreline Friday at the Crossfire Select Tournament in Redmond.

The Islanders return to action Saturday with a pair of games, one in the early morning and one in mid-afternoon.

Against Seattle, the Islanders struck first. After taking a pass from Warwick, Miesle beat the goalie from 18 yards out, popping the ball past her into a waiting net.

Seattle United answered two minutes later, right at the end of the first half, when Whidbey momentarily “lost our shape in the box,” according to coach Sean LeVine.

Becca Pabona almost broke the tie, when she converted an Erin Rosenkranz pass into a shot that the Seattle net-minder barely deflected at the last second.

With both teams a bit sluggish while battling the heat, the second half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither squad being willing to bend.

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Cowan tabbed as CHS girls’ soccer coach!!

Posted in Girls Soccer on July 12, 2013| Leave a Comment »

New Wolf coach Troy Cowan and wife Kelli, with one of their granddaughters.

The fall is set.

With two returning coaches already in place (Ken Stange for boys’ tennis and Tony Maggio for football), Coupeville High School has finished hiring its second new coach.

Joining Wolf alum Kirsty Croghan, who replaces longtime volleyball guru Toni Crebbin, will be Troy Cowan, who was recently named to head up the CHS girls’ soccer program.

Cowan, a veteran coach who has lived on Whidbey for more than 20 years and currently helms the GU15 Islanders squad, has worked with many of the current Wolf players through local select programs, which should be a huge help, since he will be Coupeville’s third head coach in as many seasons.

After Mike Thornton capped a multi-year run by moving to Texas, Dan d’Almeida ran the program last season. He now moves on, as well, having accepted a teaching position in Vienna.

“I hope the transition will be seamless,” Cowan said.

The Director of Academy for the North Whidbey Soccer Club, Cowan worked with Thornton for six years on the club’s board of directors. He also works closely with GU18 Islander coach Sean LeVine.

“I have a close relationship with Coach LeVine and serve with him on the Whidbey Island Youth Soccer Association as the Vice President,” Cowan said. “Coach LeVine and I speak almost daily and ensure our training schedules mesh, we share notes about player development and talk strategy.

“I have coached several of the current players and understand their strengths and weaknesses and in turn they know what I expect and how I work best on the pitch,” he added. “Hopefully, all of these factors will facilitate a smooth and seamless transition; if not, I am prepared for whatever lies ahead.”

Cowan inherits a Wolf squad that only won one game a season ago, but also one that features young players with talent, such as juniors Erin Rosenkranz, Micky LeVine and Marisa Etzell and sophomores Makana Stone and Jenn Spark. Sensational junior goalie Julia Myers, who missed last season after knee surgery, is also back.

Once he sees who turns out, Cowan will tailor his style to his players.

“I have always allowed the roster to determine the team’s strategy or formation,” he said. “I have some ideas and basic thoughts regarding specific strategies, but will wait until I get a chance to meet all the players and see what system best fits our strengths.

“I have coached a few of the current rostered players, but have a better working knowledge of several of the incoming freshmen,” Cowan added. “Although I haven’t coached the majority of the girls in the past, I am a fan and have watched them mature and grow on the pitch. I will say I have some very high expectations for several of the players and am excited about the opportunity to maximize their abilities and challenge their potential.”

He’s well aware of the challenges Coupeville, the smallest 1A school in the 1A/2A Cascade Conference faces, but sees that as nothing to fear.

“I have always rooted for the underdog, and when you consider CHS competes against mostly 2A and 3A teams, it seemed like a natural fit,” Cowan said.

A proud part of the Whidbey community, with 15 years already notched in the local coaching ranks, it’s a job he thinks fits him perfectly.

“I really enjoy the Island life mentality and the close communities,” Cowan said. “Having the opportunity to work with the Lady Wolves is a dream come true!

“I love working with the young Islander players,” he added. “The Lady Wolves have a great reputation for being hard workers and great sportsmen.”

As he and his new team head forward, Cowan has a simple plan in place for success, both now and in the future.

“My goals for the team are fairly simple. Be competitive, work hard and get better,” Cowan said. “Focusing on the basics and working together as a team will be a big part of the future of the Lady Wolves. Working with the feeder programs and encouraging future Lady Wolves to participate in soccer clubs and soccer programs will help facilitate a strong and fruitful future.

“I am looking forward to the future and not only the opportunity of working with the Lady Wolves, but with a great and dynamic AD and with the families and community of Coupeville.”

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Islanders kick off new season in style!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU18 Whidbey Islanders on July 1, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Islanders coach Sean LeVine imparts sideline wisdom. (Kali Barrio photos)

Team captain Erin Rosenkranz prepares for battle.

The leaning tower of cell phones, as the players enjoy a Red Robin break.

Toasty. (Kerry Rosenkranz photo)

Rosenkranz and Megan Rapinoe. (Scott Rosenkranz photo)

Their name got tweaked a bit, but their style of play has remained intact.

Now known as the Whidbey Islanders GU18 soccer squad (last season they were a GU17 team), the select booters opened a new season with a strong showing at a heat-soaked tournament off-Island over the weekend.

In addition to their three games, in which they split with the Timber Barons and dropped close contests to the two teams that faced off in the final — the Rainer Valley Slammers and Highland Premier FC — the Islanders also got the chance to attend a Seattle Reign FC professional game.

The Reign are headlined by U.S. National team star Megan Rapinoe.

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The Falcons are alright: Maia Sparkman sparkles!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, South Whidbey: Not the Antichrist, Track on June 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Maia Sparkman and older brother Guy.

Sparkman makes the magic happen on the soccer pitch.

After 10 months of “picking” on South Whidbey, I have decided to offer an olive branch to Coupeville’s closest rival.

While I don’t exactly want the Falcons to beat the Wolves at anything, the reality is there are a lot of very talented, very smart young men and women wearing the blue and white. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge them.

Cause Lord knows the Canadian-owned South Whidbey Record isn’t exactly doing a bang-up job at it.

Maia Sparkman has talent for days.

The Falcon senior soccer star, who has been her team’s starting center midfielder since her first moments on the pitch as a freshman, decided to run track last year. Bam! Trip to state as a key member of South Whidbey’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relay squads.

But it’s the beautiful game which has taken most of her time and energy, as Sparkman balances her high school team with playing for the Northwest Nationals premier squad.

“My favorite sport is soccer and I am very passionate about this sport,” Sparkman said. “I think what I enjoy the most is setting up my teammates for a goal scoring opportunity.

“To me, it’s not really scoring the goal that counts, it’s the build up of the play to make that goal happen,” she added. “I am also a strong leader. I bring a lot of communication to the game which really helps my teammates keep pushing themselves.”

Her career on the pitch has been dotted with huge moments, from a “golden goal” to beat Sultan in double overtime last season to a beautiful assist which set up freshman Annie Lux on a header that downed Granite Falls in a second extra period.

“Beating Granite was a huge milestone for South Whidbey’s varsity team because when I was a freshman the only team we beat was Sultan,” Sparkman said. “My sophomore year we only beat Coupeville and Sultan, and my junior we beat Coupeville, Sultan and Granite.

“I think the the girls soccer team is slowly regaining its strength and the school will support girls soccer now if we start doing better,” she added.

Sparkman and fellow senior Madi Boyd, also a state meet contender in track, pace the Falcons. The duo have played together since they were barely taller than the ball.

“Madi is an outstanding player that I’ve been playing sports with ever since I was in probably 3rd grade,” Sparkman said. “I’m excited to share my senior soccer season with her.

“My goal for this upcoming season is to have a better winning record then last year. It’ll be a struggle to beat Cedarcrest, King’s and Archbishop because they have so many premiere level players that SW just doesn’t have,” she added. “I don’t have doubts that our team will be great, but even if we end up not doing well, I still want to make it a season to remember.”

With her successes tempered by hard work and setbacks (a tough loss that cost her premier team a trip to nationals made her realize “even with a lead, a team won’t win if they don’t play until the end of the game”, while a broken ankle was hard to fight back from), Sparkman relishes the moment.

Along for the ride have been parents Russell and Noriko Sparkman, who have encouraged her, inspired her and shaped the vibrant young woman Falcon fans see today.

“I broke my ankle very badly in February of 2012 which required surgery and being on crutches for three months, then I had rehab for another month and a half,” Sparkman said. “My mom pushed me through my recovery and kept reminding me that I will be back on my feet playing soccer in no time.

“It helped receiving encouragement from both my mom and dad while I was on crutches because I was ready to give up soccer,” she added. “My mom deals with my attitude so often I’ll never find a way to thank her for putting up with me.”

More than just an athlete, Sparkman offers the complete package. An ASB secretary, she has graced the honor roll every semester of her high school career, is in National Honor Society and enjoys Spanish club and DECA.

While she’s committed to attending a four-year university after high school, she’s not sure whether she’ll continue to play soccer or will take a breather from a lifestyle that has required a huge output of time and effort.

She’s received interest from Pacific, UC Santa Cruz and Evergreen State, and while she appreciates the offers, it may be time for a change.

“I’m undecided on if I want to play in college because I kind of want to just live my life without making my life around soccer,” Sparkman said. “I have committed all four years of my high school life to soccer because of how much I practice overtown and the ferry rides take up a lot of time.

“I kind of want to just live my life without making soccer my number one priority,” she added. “I will be choosing the school that I want to go to first, then if I can play soccer there I will probably end up playing. If I can’t play on the varsity team at the school that I end up at, I will for sure play for a club or intramural team.”

Talented on the soccer pitch and in the classroom, Sparkman tops it off with a grace not always seen at the high school level. Given the chance to blast Coupeville and proclaim her school’s superiority, she instead chooses to focus on the positives of her experience as a Falcon.

“I don’t know many people from Coupeville and I’m sure everyone is nice, but South Whidbey has a family-like relationship with each other,” Sparkman said. “I can walk around the hallways and comfortably say hi to everybody.

“I enjoy being a Falcon because every person from our school is proud of who they are and where they come from.”

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