Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘GU19 Whidbey Islanders’

Tears on the pitch!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, tagged , , , , , on March 30, 2015| Leave a Comment »

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

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

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

Read Full Post »

“Another stellar finish to a tough season!!”

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, tagged , , , , , , on March 29, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Micky LeVine celebrated her 18th birthday Saturday by helping her team pull off a huge win. (John Fisken photo)

  Micky LeVine celebrated her 18th birthday Saturday by helping her team pull off a huge win. (John Fisken photo)

Strong down the stretch.

Capping a season-ending five-game unbeaten streak Saturday, the GU19 Whidbey Islanders select soccer squad bounced Crossfire Select 1-0 in a nail-biter.

The victory, coming over their league’s second-place team, gave the Islanders a final mark of 4-2-6 in North Puget Sound League play.

Whidbey kicks off State Cup play with a game at Oak Harbor’s Wildcat Stadium 1 PM today.

Crossfire, which entered the game with just a single loss and the distinction of being the only squad to have taken down the league’s top team, was a formidable foe.

But one the Islanders were ready to knock off.

“Another stellar finish to a tough season,” said Whidbey coach Sean LeVine. “We knew we were in for a fight, but I also knew that we can compete with any team in the league.”

The Islanders dominated the first half, punching in the game’s only goal when Gillian Crossley took advantage of sloppy clearance by the Crossfire goalie to set up the score.

Snagging the ball, she laid in a flawless pass to a waiting Lydia Peplinski, who smacked the ball to the far post, well out of reach of the scrambling goaltender.

Coming out of the break, the Islanders, who, as usual this season, were playing with no subs, had to face down a much deeper opponent intent on attacking repeatedly.

“Second half we had to weather storm after storm,” LeVine said. “Our tired team hung in there though and played smart, maintaining their shape and toughness.”

Islander goalie Kenzie Perry, bolstered by a tough band of defenders, stood tall and claimed her third straight shootout.

The game was capped by an unusual moment in which the ref tripped, fell backwards and knocked himself out cold.

“A first for me. Scary moment,” said LeVine, who doubles as a paramedic in real life.

Crossley was tabbed as the Player of the Game for her “hustle, tenacity and getting in on the assist” while birthday girl Micky LeVine “had a great game too, putting some dangerous crosses in and defending well.”

Read Full Post »

Kenzie Perry denies you (and your goals)!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, tagged , , , , on March 23, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Kenzie Perry threw down her second straight shutout Sunday.

Kenzie Perry threw down her second straight shutout Sunday.

Ah, soccer, where they get excited about a 0-0 game.

Still, any time you face down a top-level team and rise up and meet them at their level, there’s something to be appreciated.

That was the case for the GU19 Whidbey Islanders Sunday, when they used a stellar game from goalie Kenzie Perry and an inspired defense to forge said tie with the Lake Hills Legend of Bellevue.

“Great game today!,” said Islander coach Sean LeVine. “This was a great game against a very tough team who is in third place in our league and only one game behind the first place team.

“We weathered a storm and proved we can compete with anyone in the league,” he added. “This game will go a long way in preparing us for the State Cup.”

The game was a tale of two halves, with Bellevue dominating play in the first half, before the Islanders took control after the break.

“First half was all them. They dominated possession on our half for the first 45 minutes,” LeVine said. “We maintained a good defensive shape and were nearly impenetrable in the back due some fantastic defenders.

“When they did get a shot or cross off Kenzie was on fire today in coming off her line and stopping shots and crosses,” he added. “She finished the day with 10 saves, most did not trouble her too much.”

Having kept the game scoreless while under a barrage, the Islanders switched up tactics in the second half and took the game to Bellevue.

“We changed our tactics for second half, encouraging the other team to possess and then trying to catch them on a counter attack,” LeVine said. “The change worked, in that, after a few chances on their end they gave up some of their possession, which gave us even more chances on their end.

“We looked very dangerous on their end.”

Whidbey’s best chance at a game-busting score came on a “great through pass” from Hailey Erbe to Lydia Peplinski, who had the Bellevue goalie out of position.

The ball seemed destined for the back of the net, but a Lake Hills defender got her toe on the ball at the last chance, narrowly deflecting it away.

While neither squad could break through, Perry’s work in net was exemplary, earning Player of the Match honors. The shutout was her second straight.

“Her vocal leadership, shot and cross stopping today was key to earning the draw,” LeVine said.

The Islanders close out their regular season with a game in Redmond Saturday, Mar. 28, then kick off the six-week State Cup tournament at home the next day.

Read Full Post »

Perfection? Pretty dang close!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU19 Whidbey Islanders, tagged , , , , , on March 16, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Ayla Muller (second from left) was the Player of the Game Sunday.

Ayla Muller (second from left) was the Player of the Game Sunday.

Complete and utter domination.

Even down a star (Becca Pabona was out sick) the GU19 Whidbey Islanders select soccer squad routed the visiting Tracyton Pumas 2-0 Sunday in a game that was as one-sided as they come.

Attacking from all sides, the Islanders controlled the flow of play from opening whistle to closing whistle.

“We played an outstanding game today and dominated in time of possession, shots on goal, and corner kicks,” said Whidbey coach Sean LeVine.

About the only thing slowing the Islanders down was the ref, who refused to believe his own eyes.

Whidbey sparkplug Micky LeVine got blasted in the box and bit the turf after breaking free behind the defense with the ball, but the ref, missing his seeing eye dog, declined to give the Islanders a penalty kick.

Denied that early goal, Whidbey settled for making their own, raining down a pair of beauties in the second half.

The only goal they would need came when three Islanders hooked up on a bing-bang-boom play.

Kendra Warwick lashed “a perfect ball through the defense towards the corner,” where speedster Bailee Olson nabbed it and redirected the ball to Gillian Crossley, who used her chest to knock the shot into the net.

Not content with one, Warwick cracked another corner kick, using Ayla Muller’s head as her target.

Muller’s forehead met ball, goal, celebration.

It was part of a busy day for Muller, who came dangerously close to scoring on two other occasions. One of those bounced along the goal line before being cruelly denied at the last second by the harried Tracyton goaltender.

For her stellar efforts (she played the full 90 as a center back with Pabona out) Muller nabbed Player of the Game honors.

Whether it was Muller or others, Sean LeVine came away very pleased with what he saw on the field.

“All in all it was a complete game and I am very happy with everyone’s play today,” he said. “Again we were missing players and only had one sub, but this is the new normal for us.

“Our defense did outstanding today!”

The Islanders, who have won two straight, return to the pitch Sunday, Mar. 22 when they travel to Bellevue to play Lake Hills Legend.

Read Full Post »

A tie that felt like a win!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, tagged , , , , , on March 8, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Micky LeVine set up her team's goal Saturday. (John Fisken photo)

Micky LeVine set up her team’s goal Saturday. (John Fisken photo)

Sometimes you can win without winning.

The scoreboard at Oak Harbor’s Wildcat Stadium Saturday said the GU19 Whidbey Islanders select soccer squad tied 1-1 with visiting Seattle United Black.

Toss the score out, however, and the Islanders dominated the day.

“Great game today, we finished with 10 shots on goal, including three one-on-ones, to their five shots on goal,” said Whidbey coach Sean LeVine. “I’m happy with our performance, despite the tie.”

The Islanders controlled the flow of the game in the first half, only to have Seattle United make a bit of a comeback after the break.

Whidbey opened the scoring, when Micky LeVine slipped between a pair of Seattle defenders and sent a textbook pass to Lydia Peplinski in front of the goal.

The goalie made an initial save, but Peplinski nabbed the loose ball and sent the rebound into the back of the net.

Seattle United got the tying goal early in the second half, when it managed to slip a shot just outside of the grasp of Whidbey goaltender Kenzie Perry.

“Other than that moment, our defense had a very good day!,” Sean LeVine said.

He tabbed Kendra Warwick as the Player of the Game for her rampaging performance.

“She just turned it up a notch in the second half, dominating the middle of the field, and having a few shots on goal.”

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »