Julia Myers, seen here in an earlier game, was lights out in net Tuesday. (John Fisken photos)
Mckenzie Meyer
It was a classic, right up the last five seconds.
After battling through 80 minutes of scoreless play, a weary Coupeville High School girls’ soccer squad came within a few ticks of the clock of also surviving two five-minute OT periods Tuesday evening.
But a perfectly-placed shot found the very upper corner of the net with seconds to play, preventing the match from being decided on penalty kicks and lifting visiting Bellevue Christian to a heart-stopping, heartbreaking 1-0 victory.
The non-conference loss dropped Coupeville to 1-2 on the season, but Wolf coach Troy Cowan sounded more like the winning coach afterwards.
“It wasn’t a match, it was a war!!,” he said. “Our Lady Wolves played the most impressive, physically and mentally demanding match I have EVER seen.”
In particular, he singled out senior goaltender Julia Myers for her work in the net.
“Julia was a stud in the box. She played a perfect match in the box,” Cowan said. “She was determined, physically overpowering and technically sound.
“The shot that beat her was indefensible; she played the match of her life and I couldn’t be prouder of her performance,” he added. “She was vocal and demanding of her teammates and showed true leadership throughout.”
Cowan credited his assistant, Gary Manker, who works extensively with the team’s goalies.
“I have to give all the credit to Julia’s success and improvements to my fellow coach,” Cowan said. “He is like the mad scientist!!! He puts and finds ways to get our girls ready and what he was done with our goalies has been amazing.
“He is truly an asset and one of the CHS soccer program’s biggest advocates and supporters.”
Across the board, the Wolves, many of whom played a full 90 minutes, impressed their coach.
“Mckenzie Meyer played nearly the entire match and was solid,” Cowan said. “There was no way anyone would have thought this kid was a freshman. She showed tremendous heart and outstanding technique on defense.
“Ana Luvera was a freak of nature as well,” he added. “Starting in a new position for the first time, she didn’t have a lot of time playing our holding mid position, but she was a natural for the position and graduated with honors from the school of hard knocks. She is a true warrior!!!”
The Wolf defensive unit, headed by vets Jacki Ginnings, Jenn Spark and Ivy Luvera, and with Meyer subbing for an ill Christine Fields, more than held its own against the visitors.
“They were simply divine!!!,” Cowan said. “I couldn’t be prouder of those four Lady Wolves, turning back attack after attack, giving up their bodies and willing the Lady Wolves to one of the toughest matches we have played in many years!”
Coupeville travels to Orcas Island today for a non-conference match, one of four before it begins Olympic League play, and Cowan thinks his squad is primed for a successful run.
“I told the girls today how proud I was to be their coach and thanked them for their incredible efforts,” he said. “This was a defining game and I know our Lady Wolves are going to take the lessons learned from this epic battle and put it in the bank.
“Our first three matches have all been extremely competitive and great learning experiences. We are still tweaking some things, but are very close to making a serious run and doing some damage in the Olympic League,” Cowan added. “I am very excited for these ladies; their future is looking very bright!!!”
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