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Posts Tagged ‘Donosti Cup Tour’

Kalia

Kalia Littlejohn has got soccer on the brain. (Dawn Hesselgrave photos)

NWU GU16 players bask in the glow of their awesomeness.

NWU GU16 players bask in the glow of their awesomeness.

Kalia Littlejohn’s goal-scoring foot will not cool down.

The Coupeville High School freshman hammered home yet another score on Spanish soil, lifting her NWU GU16 select soccer squad to a hard-fought 1-1 tie Wednesday in its third game at the Donosti Cup in San Sebastian.

The tie leaves the squad, which features four Whidbey Island players, at 2-0-1 in the 200-team, 20-country tourney.

There is a chance the draw could become a victory, though, as the other team’s goal was being reviewed.

Littlejohn punched in her goal off of an assist from fellow Whidbey mate Jenna Cooley, and the play was set up by a third girl from The Rock, Malia Hansen.

The fourth Island representative, CHS sophomore Mia Littlejohn, didn’t score but was in the thick of things all game.

Mia played with a determination that would make an opponent scared to come near her,” said excited mom Dawn Hesselgrave. “You should have seen her strength, as she powered through and won balls jumping backwards in the air two times for the header.

“I did not know she was that flexible!”

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(Dawn Hesselgrave photos)

The Americans have come to town, and they’re not leaving until they score all the goals. (Dawn Hesselgrave photos)

flag

Spreading a bit of international love.

cup

Just in case you forgot where they are.

San Sebastian glows.

San Sebastian glows.

Still flawless in Spain.

Pulling off its second shutout in as many days, the NWU GU16 select soccer squad, which features four Whidbey island players, rampaged to a 6-0 victory at the Donosti Cup in San Sebastian.

With all four Island girls — Mia Littlejohn, Jenna Cooley, Malia Hansen and Kalia Littlejohn — contributing with a goal or assist, or both, NWU pounded Antigua Luberri BGE, which hails from Zumaia, Spain.

Now 2-0 in the tourney, which draws 400+ teams from 20+ countries, the Washington state squad has outscored its opponents 10-0 so far.

The most electrifying goal in game two may have come from Kalia Littlejohn.

The Coupeville High School freshman-to-be awoke memories of the professional players who have trod the pitch in the stadium she was playing in, punching in her goal on a header.

Back at home on The Rock, Wolf girls’ soccer coach Troy Cowan heard the news and hasn’t stopped smiling since.

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Kalia (Dawn Hesselgrave photos)

Kalia Littlejohn joins the Wall of Fame. (Dawn Hesselgrave photos)

Dawn

Dawn Hesselgrave is caught on the other side of the camera.

Kalia and Malia

   Littlejohn and Malia Hansen (left) explore a high-level professional soccer locker room.

spain

San Sebastian, soccer (and food) mecca.

Mia

   Mia Littlejohn (left, front) enjoys the ride, while several of her teammates opt for nap time.

Kalia

Kalia practices her post-goal celebration.

They’re undefeated on international soil.

Having traveled to Spain for the Donosti Cup, the NWU GU16 select soccer squad, which features four Whidbey Island players, rolled to a 4-0 win in its opener.

Coupeville High School sophomore-to-be Mia Littlejohn scored a goal in the first half, then took over in net in the second half to complete the shutout.

The Donosti Cup, held in San Sebastian on Spain’s Basque coast, draws 400 teams from 20 countries.

Players, coaches and parents raised the money for the trip with a variety of fundraisers, and the first few days in Spain were spent sightseeing and tasting the local cuisine.

San Sebastian currently has two of the world’s top ten ranked restaurants.

Mia Littlejohn is joined on the squad by lil’ sis Kalia, who will be a freshman at CHS, as well as fellow Islanders Malia Hansen and Jenna Cooley.

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Mia Littlejohn is part of a talented group of freshmen who made an impact this season.

   Mia Littlejohn stalks the pitch during her recent freshman season at Coupeville High School. (John Fisken photo)

Whidbey booters (l to r) Kalia Littlejohn, Malia ? and Mia Littlejohn. (Dawn Hesselgrave photo)

The talented trio of (l to r) Kalia Littlejohn, Malia Hansen and Mia Littlejohn. (Dawn Hesselgrave photo)

Three of Whidbey’s finest soccer players have a chance to take their pursuit of “The Beautiful Game” to Spain next summer, but they’ll need some help.

Coupeville’s Mia and Kalia Littlejohn and North Whidbey’s Malia Hansen have been playing for the North West United U-15 Premier team.

To make the select soccer squad, which draws players from across Washington state, they had to beat out all comers at tryouts.

Once they did that, the trio sparkled as NW United enjoyed strong showings at a string of tournaments.

Now, the squad has been invited to play in the 2015 Donosti Cup in Spain.

The tourney, which runs July 6-11, brings together 350 youth soccer teams from around the world.

Held in San Sebastian on the northern coast of Spain, the Donosti Cup gives teams up to six games.

Squads play four to five round-robin games before being placed in a finals or consolation finals bracket.

If NW United makes it to a final, the girls would play at Anoeta Stadium, the home field of Spanish fútbol power Real Sociedad. The stadium seats 32,000 spectators.

Win or lose, all teams will participate in the opening ceremonies, which will feature teams from 17 different countries.

To make the trip, though, the girls will need financial help from fans on The Rock and beyond.

To read much more about their proposed adventures and possibly chip in a few bucks to help fuel the future of Whidbey soccer, pop over to:

http://www.gofundme.com/whidbey-spain

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