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“Islanders forever!!”

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, tagged Becca Pabona, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, Jacalyn Hefflefinger, Sean LeVine, Soccer, State Cup on May 10, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Saturday was the final ride for Erin Rosenkranz and her GU19 Whidbey Islanders squad. (John Fisken photo)

Saturday was the final game together for Erin Rosenkranz and her GU19 Whidbey Islanders squad. (John Fisken photo)

Islanders forever. (Kali Barrio photo)

David put the fear of God into Goliath.

Drawing its players from all three Whidbey Island high schools, the ever-scrappy GU19 Whidbey Islanders soccer squad has always been a success, win or loss.

Saturday, having gone further than ever before, the band of sisters made a final stand on the mainland, falling 1-0 to Seattle United NE in a hard-fought State Cup semifinal.

And while the loss ended the Islanders season, and brought an end to this version of the team, it failed to diminish what they have accomplished.

“I am very proud that this small team from Whidbey, who has no cuts and plays big city teams with paid coaches who cut several players in tryouts, could not only compete, but threaten to win it all!,” said coach Sean LeVine. “My only hope is that they have fond memories and valuable lessons to take.”

LeVine, along with those who helped him make the Coupeville/Oak Harbor/South Whidbey juggernaut possible, will look back on the past few years as a great success.

“Our GU19 Whidbey Islanders team is officially disbanded, but Islanders forever!,” he said. “Thanks to Scott Rosenkranz for being a great coach all these years and Sherry Pabona for being a great manager.

“Happy Mother’s Day to all the awesome, ultra-dedicated soccer moms!,” LeVine added. “Without them we’d have no team.”

Playing on a brutally warm field Saturday, the Islanders had to deal with a season-long issue — few, if any, subs.

“It was HOT on the field today, and with only one sub compared to their four, our superior conditioning did not help as much as it had,” LeVine said.

Seattle United poked in the game’s only goal at the 20 minute mark, when it stole a ball and sent a cross into “a poorly-marked player,” who hit from 10 yards out.

Whidbey had several chances to knot the game, but luck wasn’t on its side on this day.

On their best chance, Gillian Crossley beat a defender at the near post and laid the ball on the foot of Lydia Peplinski, but her shot narrowly missed.

With the heat sucking the life out of both teams, play slowed in the second half, but Seattle was able to control the flow of the game by “possessing the ball better than any team we’ve faced this season.”

The game capped a season in which LeVine’s roster changed radically as the season developed.

Coupeville’s Jenn Spark and Jacki Ginnings (“two of the best defenders in the league”) were lost to injuries right as the season kicked-off, two other players left the team unexpectedly, another moved out of the country, and the crush of senior year for many of the players was a constant tricky issue.

“Despite all that, we figured things out, improved as we went along, and went further in the state tournament than we ever have,” said a proud LeVine.

He got contributions from every one of his players, and enjoyed that it was a second family as much as a team.

LeVine’s thoughts on his players:

Alyssa Cross, Ayla Muller and Becca Pabona became our best center backs in Jenn and Jacki’s place and excelled this season. That is a very tough position and they are awesome for stepping in, improving, and excelling.

Erin Rosenkranz played a new position this season at left back, which if you know her playing style, you’d know that was weird. But she simply proved to be the best 1-on-1 defender we have, and she did consistently well.

Paige Waterman was missed at the beginning of the season, but despite her ankle injury, she came on strong and was our consistent right back the rest of the year.

Our top three goal scorers were Lydia, Gillian, and Micky (LeVine).

Lydia and “Jilly” are our youngest and they are going to do great things in the next couple years; I can’t wait to watch them play more.

Kendra Warwick was the axle of our wheels this season.

Nothing happened if she didn’t play a role; she is simply our most valuable asset, although Kenzie Perry may have an argument with her multiple shut-outs as keeper and her goal scoring prowess in very few field appearances.

Vivien Valles, Micky and Bailee Olson are our work horses and blue collar workers.

While Jacalyn Hefflefinger, one of my favorite people, did not have her 10-goal season like last year, her work rate and sense of humor is the glue of the team. She is really loved by all.

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“The perfect game!!”

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, tagged Gillian Crossley, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, Lydia Peplinski, Micky LeVine, Soccer, State Cup, Vivien Valles on May 3, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Gillian Crossley (left), seen here earlier in the season, scored in Saturday’s State Cup win. (John Fisken photo)

Two wins from a title.

Despite missing three key players Saturday, the GU19 Whidbey Islanders select soccer squad played what coach Sean LeVine termed “the perfect game,” shredding host Lake Hills Athena 3-0 to nab a spot in the State Cup semifinals.

The Islanders head to Tukwila Saturday, May 9 for that match.

Win and they stay around to play in the championship game the next day.

To get there, Whidbey overcame the loss of Bailee Olson (out on a questionable red card suspension), Jacalyn Hefflefinger (competing in the Miss Oak Harbor pageant) and Ayla Muller (moved out of the country … seriously).

Down to 10 players, the Islanders got a little break when their foes elected to be good sports and not take the man advantage.

Still, Lake Hills did have four subs, while Whidbey’s warriors went every second.

And still kicked some fanny.

“We dominated them from whistle to whistle in every aspect,” a jubilant LeVine said.

While they might have had no backups, the Islanders who were in attendance came out on fire, especially Player of the Match Vivien Valles, who had a hand (or foot) in all three goals.

“Her runs created openings for other players or she assisted the assist or directly assisted all three,” LeVine said.

On the first score, the Islanders kept the ball moving and the Lake Hills goalie guessing until the last, fateful second.

Kendra Warwick (“who also played dominant and lights out”) found Valles, who was ripping off a “brilliant diagonal run,” with the ball then shooting off to Gillian Crossley, who opened fire on the net.

When Crossley’s shot was partially blocked by the keeper, Lydia Peplinski nabbed it and calmly hammered it into the back of the net for the only score her squad would need.

Not content to sit on a 1-0 lead, however, the Islanders poured it on.

Valles knocked a ball into the box, with Crossley scooping up a deflection and chipping it over the flailing keeper’s head for score #2.

Coming out of the half with the intention of getting another goal and holding on to the shutout, Whidbey did both.

Valles capped the scoring action early in the second half, firing a “perfect” cross into the box where Micky “Two Fists” LeVine dropped a one-touch shot over the keeper and into the far post.

Not bad for a player who had been “on her death bed the last two days with illness,” according to her father/coach.

As the Islanders celebrated and advanced, knowing they’ll get back two of their missing three players next week, Sean LeVine basked in the afterglow.

“Our game today was the most dominant performance of our season!,” he said.

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One final bow, one more victory!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, tagged Ayla Muller, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, Kenzie Perry, Soccer, Spain, State Cup on April 26, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Ayla Muller with coaches Scott Rosenkranz (left) and Sean LeVine. (Kali Barrio photos)

Ayla Muller, with soccer coaches Scott Rosenkranz (left) and Sean LeVine. (Kali Barrio photos)

The GU19 Whidbey Islanders gather for one last home game.

Micky LeVine (left) and Erin Rosenkranz. (Sean LeVine photo)

Coupeville stars Micky LeVine (left) and Erin Rosenkranz exit with a smile. (Sean LeVine photo)

It was for the playoffs.

It was for revenge.

It was for a chance to walk off their home field together, united, as winners one last time.

Most of all, it was for Ayla.

When the GU19 Whidbey Islanders select soccer squad pulled out a thriller Saturday, edging the visiting Bellevue Ravens 1-0, it capped a whirlwind week.

The team held a red, white and blue going-away party for Ayla Muller, their spark-plug, who is moving to Roda, Spain with her family.

Then they took the turf at Oak Harbor’s Wildcat Stadium for the final time — most of the team is comprised of high school seniors who are headed towards graduation — and assured they would play on for at least another week.

Just without Muller, who exits the country May 1.

“It was a very emotional game,” said Islander coach Sean LeVine. “Our final home game for our team and Ayla’s final game with us.

“This is a tough loss for our team as she is not only a great player, center-back, goal keeper, but she is absolutely adored by her teammates and coaches!,” he added. “In fact, we owe much of our shut out today to her.”

Muller, who shared time in goal with Kenzie Perry, took a leg to the head late in the game to cap her Islander career.

“She went out with a bang, literally, but thankfully she is fine,” LeVine said. “We are sad to see her go, but excited for her new adventure.

“I know she plans to play soccer over there, so I’m very happy about that.”

Beyond Muller’s departure and the game being the home finale, a victory was huge.

It avenged a 3-2 loss to the Ravens from earlier in the season and moved the Islanders into first place in their State Cup bracket.

Whidbey advances to play at Bellevue next weekend, with a win or possibly a tie in that game pushing them into the semifinals May 9.

With both teams fighting for their playoff lives, the game was a hard-fought affair, but the Islanders had two factors firmly in their favor.

“What a game! It was really non-stop action between two fairly evenly matched teams,” LeVine said. “The only difference was that we have the better defense and conditioning!

“We out hustled them!”

With the Islanders playing stellar defense, Perry was only called on for two saves in the first half, while Muller made three after the break.

Whidbey’s goal came on a bang-bang play, where it had several looks at the net, but actually scored via an own goal by the Ravens.

Late in the second half Jacalyn Hefflefinger, powering down the sideline, slid a cross into the box, finding Lydia Peplinski on the fly.

Defended well, Peplinksi took the ball wide and put a cross right across the top of the goal box, where Perry (now playing on the field) came flying in and got a touch on it, causing it to deflect off a defender and into the goal.

Even if the ball hadn’t taken a fortunate bounce, the Islanders were primed, with Gillian Crossley sitting ready to punch the ball in as well.

“It was an own goal, but a real team effort!” LeVine said.

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Can’t beat the birthday girl!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, tagged GU19 Whidbey Islanders, Kendra Warwick, Kenzie Perry, Lydia Peplinski, Soccer, State Cup on April 12, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Kendra Warwick tallied two goals, an assist and a win as she celebrated her 17th birthday Sunday. (John Fisken photo)

“After we warmed up, we became the dominant team.”

For the first 15 minutes Sunday, GU19 Whidbey Islanders soccer coach Sean LeVine had a bit of trepidation.

Then he remembered his team was awesome and settled in to watch it roll host Seattle United Shoreline 4-0 in a State Cup game.

“It was an almost complete game,” LeVine said. “If you’d have asked me during the first 15 minutes if we’d win 4-0 I’d have said probably not. However, I’d have forgotten that we are typically a late starter.

“They had the better possession during the first 15, but after we warmed up, we became the dominant team,” he added. “After that we out-possessed, out-hustled, out-smarted, and out-hearted (if that were a word) our opponent.”

The Islanders broke through first with a gift-wrapped present for birthday girl Kendra Warwick.

The Seattle goalie deflected a shot by Lydia Peplinski, but the ever-sneaky Micky LeVine zipped in, snagged the rebound and banged the ball back to the hard-charging Warwick.

A quick flick of her golden foot (“their keeper had no chance”) and Whidbey had the only goal it would need on the afternoon.

Whidbey poured it on in the second half, with Warwick continuing to have a birthday game for the ages. She was later picked as the Player of the Match.

The pride of South Whidbey punched in a knuckler from 30 yards out for her second goal, then laid in a “beautiful through pass” to Peplinski, who launched a rocket into the side netting.

Not content with a three-goal lead, the Islanders pulled off a miracle fourth goal, had it called off by the refs, then pulled off the same exact scoring play just to prove it wasn’t a fluke the first time.

Alyssa Cross launched a throw-in that found Kenzie Perry’s head.

When her initial shot was blocked, Perry picked up the deflection and popped it past the flailing rival goaltender.

A spoilsport ref waved the goal off, however, deciding Cross had stepped onto the field during the follow-through on her pass.

Not to be deterred, Cross made the same throw a second time, Perry put her noggin in the right spot, and this time the ref could no nothing but marvel at the goal along with everyone else.

“Unbelievable!” said a jubilant LeVine. “That’s heart and determination!”

With Whidbey fighting to hold on to the shutout — which gives it more points in the State Cup tourney — things got down and dirty in the late going.

A Seattle player repeatedly kicked Islander Bailee Olson’s injured ankle (aiming for the very visible ankle wrap) and when Olson briefly retaliated, she was booted with a red card.

The ejection will cause her to miss the Islanders next game.

“It wasn’t a good decision, but I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same,” LeVine said.

Down a player, the Islanders stepped up aggressively over the final 15 minutes, holding on to a shutout that was shared by Perry and Ayla Muller.

“I am very proud of how my team played and responded today,” LeVine said.

The Islanders return to action in two weeks, hosting the Bellevue Ravens 12 PM Saturday, April 25 at Oak Harbor’s Wildcat Stadium.

It will be the final home game for this edition of the squad and pits them against a tough rival they lost to 4-2 earlier this season.

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Tears on the pitch!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, tagged GU19 Whidbey Islanders, Kendra Warwick, Kenzie Perry, Micky LeVine, Soccer, State Cup on March 30, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Erin Rosenkranz makes with the fancy footwork. (John Fisken photos)

She turned 19 the day before, but age hasn't slowed down the spring in Micky LeVine's step.

She turned 18 the day before, but old age hasn’t slowed the spring in Micky LeVine’s step.

Kendra Warwick, motoring her way to Player of the Match honors.

Sean LeVine’s pillow might be a bit tear-stained this morning.

The GU19 Whidbey Islanders select soccer coach had a restless night after watching his squad fall apart a bit Sunday during its State Cup opener.

A day after closing the regular season with a thrilling win, the Islanders were sluggish, out of sorts and a step behind, falling 1-0 to visiting Seattle United South.

“It was pretty bad for us,” LeVine said.

Seattle United nabbed the game’s lone score inside the first 10 minutes, slipping a ball into the net off of a poorly-defended free kick.

“Our team apparently fell asleep during the free kick and allowed three players to run into the box unmarked and get about three touches on the ball before scoring,” LeVine said. “It way really ugly defending, or actually no defending.”

While the Whidbey defense clamped down after that, the offense was nonexistent for much of the day.

“Much of the rest of our game was sluggish and uninspiring,” LeVine said. “We had several great through passes to get in behind the defense, but poor timing or bad touches plagued us in the final third and we were unable to get any good shots off.”

The Islanders best opportunities both involved Micky LeVine.

On one, she took a through pass from Kendra Warwick and had the goalie beat, only to see the ball slide just wide of the open net.

On the second, Micky LeVine chipped the ball to Lydia Peplinski in front of the goal, but the young gun got caught up in a scrum and couldn’t get her shot off.

Playing with no reserves (again) and back-to-back games took its toll on the Islanders.

“We were the better team, but they came to play and we were too sluggish, possibly from playing a tough game the day before with no subs,” Sean LeVine said.

Warwick, the ultimate spark-plug, ran away with Player of the Match honors.

“That kid has a motor and she was flying around disrupting anything the other team tried to do in the middle,” Sean LeVine said. “She also put more through passes behind the defense than I could count.

“We just need someone to finish those chances that she creates.”

He also called out goaltender Kenzie Perry for her solid play in net.

“Kenzie kept us in the game, making some tough saves and she again played a full 90 in the net,” he said. “She’s been playing very well for us this season.”

The Islanders have two weeks off before returning to State Cup play. They’ll hit the road to play Seattle United Shoreline Sunday, April 12.

To see more photos from this game, pop over to:

http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/gallery.jsp?gid=768a5498ce7fdabc075e

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