Soccer Jedi Avalon Renninger mentally calculates how much of the net she needs to see to be able to score. (John Fisken photos)
All-Conference players (l to r) Lindsey Roberts, Kalia Littlejohn and Sage Renninger are back to create havoc.
One step from the top.
That’s where the Coupeville High School girls soccer team has been, with three consecutive second-place finishes since the 1A Olympic League opened for business.
Of course, when you’re chasing Klahowya, the 2014 state champs and a team which hasn’t lost in 20 conference games, making that next step is a huge one.
Coupeville made an inroad last year, when Lindsey Roberts netted a pair of goals in a mid-season loss to the Eagles.
That was the first, and, so far, only time Klahowya has surrendered more than one goal to an Olympic League rival.
As the 2017 season dawns on the horizon, Roberts, now a junior, is back, joining fellow All-Conference players Sage Renninger and Kalia Littlejohn to form a potent trio all hankering to be on the first Wolf squad to upend the Eagles on the pitch.
CHS coach Kyle Nelson, making his debut on the girls side of the ball after expanding his empire to include running both Wolf soccer programs, is upbeat as he gazes ahead.
“I believe we will do real well this year,” he said. “We should be strong in the league, but Klahowya, as usual in soccer, will be very tough.
“We would like to see an extended run in the playoffs this year.”
Coupeville is coming off its first winning season in program history, having gone 8-7-1 overall, 6-3 in league play last year, but the Wolves return missing a considerable chunk of offense.
Mia Littlejohn, who was Olympic League Co-MVP after scoring a school record 27 goals in 2016, transferred to Lake Stevens for her senior season.
While her big sister unexpectedly departed, Kalia Littlejohn remained at home, and she’s a deadly weapon herself, having rattled home 18 goals in her first two seasons.
She led the Wolves with 10 scores as a freshman, then tacked on eight more last year, and is a strong bet to make a run at the school’s career records for goals.
If she doubles her output, Kalia would nip Mia, who finished with 35 goals. Pick up the pace a bit and she could go after Abraham Leyva, who tallied 45 in boys play.
Roberts scored six as a sophomore, an especially strong number for a defender, while current sophomores Tia Wurzrainer (3), Anna Dion (1) and Avalon Renninger (1) are other returning goal scorers.
Nelson inherits a strong core with a mix of goal scorers and glue players such as senior Sage Renninger, who was a First-Team All-League pick and team captain in 2016, as well as steady senior Lauren Bayne and speedy sophomore Mallory Kortuem.
Junior Ema Smith and sophomore Megan Thorn also return, while juniors Sarah Wright and Maddy Hilkey and sophomore Natalie Hollrigel have jumped to soccer after playing other sports.
Rounding out the squad are five freshmen — Knight Arndt, Mollie Bailey, Aurora Cernick, Genna Wright and Lily Zustiak.
“We have a good returning core from last year, so there is some experience on the team,” Nelson said. “And the new players are eager to learn. The girls have a great positive spirit and we are going to use that to build through the season.
“As any other year it will take time for us to integrate the new players to the team,” he added. “And, of course, this is my first year coaching this team, so it will take some time for us to come together on the same page.”
Win, lose or draw (and no one in the stands likes a draw…), the Wolf booters will come out aggressively, looking to build on last year’s success.
Coupeville heads to Oak Harbor Stadium Thursday for a jamboree (4:30 PM), then opens the 16-game regular season at South Whidbey Sept. 7.
Nelson, for one, is already counting down the hours until kick-off.
“I am excited for this year, and that has only grown as we have started the year. The girls have a great attitude and we are looking forward to having some fun.”
