Sophomore Ema Smith made her debut in goal Thursday and was highly-praised by her coach afterwards. (John Fisken photos)
Sisters Mia (left) and Kalia Littlejohn bond before kickin’ fanny and taking names on the pitch.
They kicked things off with a bang.
Ushering in the 2016-2017 prep sports year, the Coupeville High School girls’ soccer team went into jamboree play Thursday with a thin roster, yet emerged happy with the results.
Despite only having 11 eligible players (four of them freshmen) as everyone scrambles to get enough practices in, the Wolves beat arch-rival South Whidbey and held their own for much of the game with host Oak Harbor.
Sparring with the Falcons, who they will meet in the regular season opener (Sept. 8 in Coupeville), the CHS booters pulled off a dazzling goal en route to a 1-0 win.
Junior captain Sage Renninger crushed the ball which deflated the heart of South Whidbey’s defense, but the play was first set-up by a wild back-and-forth passing effort.
Lindsey Roberts dropped a dead-eye pass to Kalia Littlejohn, who worked a give-and-go with freshman Avalon Renninger.
With the ball back on her foot, Littlejohn, “who impressed the whole crowd with some unbelievable ball skills that would have made David Copperfield blush!!” according to coach Troy Cowan, set up Renninger.
“Sage drove a ball that never hit the ground into the back of the net like a Scud missile!!!,” wailed the happily-hyperventilating coach.
Facing off with Oak Harbor, a much-bigger 3A squad, the scrappy 1A Wolves mixed their lineup around and got valuable pitch time for their younger players.
While Coupeville fell 3-0, it showed off “an awesome display of perseverance and never die soccer.”
Cowan hailed the play of veteran Mia Littlejohn, who “consistently made runs and initiated our counterattacks” and fleet-footed frosh Mallory Kortuem, who sizzled in her high school debut.
Capping the night was the performance of sophomore Ema Smith in goal.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say our jamboree MVP would be Ema,” Cowan said. “This courageous young lady donned the goalie jersey for the very first time in her young career and with really one day to practice!!!
“Well done Ema, you did a terrific job!”
