Jacki Ginnings scored the first goal of her high school career Saturday. (John Fisken photo)
Emma Laurion began her soccer career in Coupeville and has gone on to be one of the state’s top scorers for Crosspoint Academy. (Tara Templeton photo)
Jacki scored!
That was the headline Saturday, as Coupeville High School senior Jacki Ginnings, one of the hardest workers in the biz, overcame a hurt ankle to net the first goal of her stellar high school career.
Playing in Bremerton against defending 2B state champ Crosspoint Academy, the goal wasn’t enough to turn the tide, however, as the Wolves were rolled 7-1 by their hosts.
Playing without five key players, including its top scorer (Micky LeVine), top defender (Jenn Spark) and starting goaltender (Julia Myers), and with several other key players limited to short stints on the pitch, Coupeville couldn’t match Crosspoint’s high-powered offense.
Desere’e Doty netted a hat trick and former Whidbey resident Emma Laurion added a goal and two assists to pace Crosspoint.
The loss dropped Coupeville to 3-3-1 heading into the start of the six-game 1A Olympic League schedule.
CHS coach Troy Cowan was content to look at the positives on the trip home.
His younger bench players got a chance to experience substantial playing time, and Ginnings seized her moment.
Literally.
Cowan had moved Ginnings and her sore ankle up front to avoid contact as much as possible and was about to pull her from the game.
Her replacement was actually on the sideline, ready to come in, when she made her goal-scoring run.
“She was begging me on the bench to play,” Cowan said. “Jacki must have seen she was about to get subbed and decided to make one last push to score a goal.
“Before the match, when I told Jacki I wasn’t going to play her much because I wanted her to rest her ankle, she told me Jesus had kissed her ankle,” he added. “Well, it must have been true, because in those next few moments before she came out for the day, Jacki put one in the back of the net.
“After a few minutes on the bench Jacki told me, “see coach, I told you Jesus kissed my ankle!”
Coupeville entered the non-conference game, which had been set up to give Laurion a chance to reunite with some of the girls she played with during her rec league days on Whidbey, down a chunk of players.
Spark is lost for the season with a blown-out knee, while LeVine, Myers and defender Christine Fields were taking the SATs. Bree Daigneault was called away by a family emergency.
“When you take that kind of firepower off a team, you won’t see too many sparks,” Cowan said.
Their absence, and Cowan’s decision to limit the playing time of seniors Ginnings, Erin Rosenkranz and Marisa Etzell to preserve their health for league play, gave the Wolf bench its biggest chunk of playing time this season.
Freshmen Mckenzie Meyer and Mia Littlejohn stepped in for Myers, splitting time in goal, while Lauren Bayne, Kirsten Pelroy, Ashley Smith, Hanna Seiffert and Tai Rose all saw substantial action.
“A lot of these girls haven’t played much this year, but when opportunity came a knocking, they were there to open the door and took full advantage of their opportunities,” Cowan said. “All these girls played hard and learned a lot about the game and themselves today; they will be better players tomorrow because of today.”
Cowan also took a few moments to praise older players who shined.
“May Rose was awesome today. Playing nearly the whole match as an outside mid-fielder, she was terrific at winning balls and battled hard all day,” Cowan said. “Very happy with May’s play, her future has never looked brighter.
“Ivy and Ana Luvera are just terrific young ladies that are great at playing soccer. Both play hard, never quit and excel in sportsmanship,” he added. “The Luvera girls played really well today; Ivy, still learning her new position, continues to put in work and is getting better every day. Ana is just driven!!! I mean this player doesn’t have a first or even second gear, she has one speed, fast!!!
“Just a pleasure to train, watch, and coach.”
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