Ryan Freeman performs some mid-air trickery. (John Fisken photos)
The collision with the ball appears to have knocked part of Cody Menges hair off… Josh Datin (right) can only stare in silent horror.
Abraham Leyva, rock star.
First they need to be good. Then they need to be lucky.
Both parts of the equation go right for the Coupeville High School boys’ soccer squad and it will host its opening playoff game.
A 5-0 loss Monday to visiting Klahowya dropped the Wolves to 2-3 in 1A Olympic League play (3-9 overall) and into third-place in the standings.
But, if CHS upends Port Townsend (3-2) on the road Wednesday in the regular season finale, the two schools will finish in a tie for second place and have split the season series.
If that happens, their fate is decided on the flip of a coin.
Win, and they’re the #2 seed and play at home Saturday, May 9 against the #3 team from the Nisqually League.
Lose, and they’re #3 and hit the road that day to visit the other league’s #2 squad.
Either way, the game will be a loser-out affair.
A victory in their playoff opener and the Wolves advance to the double-elimination portion of districts May 12-16, where two of the remaining four teams would qualify for state.
Klahowya (5-0) assured itself of avoiding a loser-out game with the win Monday, clinching the league title.
But, while they lost, the injury-plagued Wolves did play better in the second half against the Eagles, so you take your positives where you can find them.
“We came out flat in the first half and paid for it quickly,” CHS coach Kyle Nelson said. “The boys regrouped in the second half and played a bit better, only conceding the one goal after half time.”
To see more photos from this game (purchases help fund college scholarships for CHS student/athletes), pop over to:
Coupeville Sports 