Coupeville Sports

Freshman Preston Epp played strongly Thursday as Coupeville and Mount Vernon Christian waged a classic battle. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

A loss on the scoreboard, a win in their hearts.

While they couldn’t get the tying goal across despite a frenzied late-game push Thursday, the Coupeville High School boys soccer players have nothing to hang their heads about.

Facing off with one of the best teams in the Northwest 2B/1B League in visiting Mount Vernon Christian, the still-developing Wolves pushed the Hurricanes hard in a 2-1 loss.

The game was a thriller, with fans from both schools screaming into the encroaching fog, and a chiller, as the two teams played a hard-nosed, physical, but not dirty affair.

Now, there was a moment or two when Coupeville PA announcer Ja’Kenya Hoskins came out of her chair, ready to drop fists to defend her boys down below.

Especially when Wolf freshman Preston Epp and his MVC counterpart tangled with elbows and other assorted body parts while frequently fighting for control of the ball down in front of the press box.

“No sir, I am not having it #9! Do not make me come down there!!,” blurted Hoskins, who then reverted to form as the friendliest person on the prairie, dissolving into giggles.

“I’ve never been so into a soccer game before!,” she added. “This is a good one!!”

It was a sentiment shared by Coupeville coach Robert Wood.

“Such a good game,” he said with a big smile. “Well played by both teams, and I’m really proud of our guys and how they played.”

With the loss, Coupeville drops to 3-4 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, snapping a two-game win streak, while MVC gets to 6-3.

The Hurricane program has always been a strong one, and Wood was pleased to see the growth in his Wolf squad, which lost 4-0 to MVC back in the season opener.

He credited players like Xavier Murdy, Miguel Puente, and Grant Steller for their hustle, their grit, and their leadership, while praising everyone on the field for their contributions.

Coupeville got on the board first, moments after Wolf goalie Aidan Wilson made a superb kick save on a shot.

Rumbling in front of the net, the ever-electric Alex Murdy torched the MVC netminder, slashing the ball past him in the game’s 13th minute.

It was the team-high fourth goal of the season for the younger of the Murdy boys, and it held up until the 27th minute.

Caught in a scramble of players, Wilson was partially blocked, allowing the Hurricanes to punch in a loose ball and knot things up at 1-1.

From there, the CHS defense clamped down, with Wilson making another nifty save, this one on a Mount Vernon header, and the teams headed into the break still stuck in a stalemate.

The second half was the story of one quick goal — MVC popped in the eventual game-winner a little over two minutes after play resumed — and then 37+ minutes of rough-and-tumble, back-and-forth scoreless action.

Coupeville had a couple of really good looks after halftime, with Xavier Murdy just missing on a free kick and Puente being thwarted on a breakaway by the goalie colliding with him mid-shot.

The game’s oddest moment, which drew a roar of joy from Hoskins in the booth, came when an MVC player was handed a yellow card by the lone ref on the scene.

It wasn’t for any of the many in-game collisions or jostling, however, but apparently for the Hurricane taunting by dropping and doing pushups after a play.

“Weird, man,” Wood said with a laugh, and then he vanished into the night, a coach pleased with how his team is growing closer, both on and off the field.

Wins are important, but growth tops all.