Seniors Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim (left) and Cole White help spark a high-flying Wolf soccer squad. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
There was magic in the rain.
Buffeted (but just a bit) by the first foul weather of the season Saturday, the Coupeville High School boys’ soccer squad stormed from two goals down to shock a state powerhouse.
Orcas Island won the 2B/1B state crown two years ago, and finished runner-up last fall, but on this day, the Vikings had no answers for a fired-up Wolf crew.
Getting goals from four different players, and late-game defensive heroics from goaltender Hurlee Bronec, Coupeville pulled out a 4-3 win in a non-conference game against a league foe.
With three straight victories after an opening night loss to defending state champ Friday Harbor, the Wolves sit at 3-1, their best start to a season in the Coupeville Sports era (2012-today).
Up next?
A prime-time rumble under Friday Night Lights at Mickey Clark Field (admission is free!), with the Wolves hosting Cedar Park Christian-Lynnwood (1-2) at 6:00 PM in their first game to count in the league standings.
And the rematch with Orcas Island?
That will come on the road in the regular-season finale Oct. 24.
For now, the Wolves, and coaches Robert Wood and Kimberly Kisch, will bask in the afterglow of a milestone victory.
And one achieved without a full roster, as several players, including starter Ayden Wyman — one of two girls on the Wolf varsity — were absent.
Saturday’s tilt, coming on the heels of a blowout Coupeville football win on the same field less than 24 hours before, was an all-out scrap.
Players hit the turf frequently, though fairly cleanly, as the teams waged a back-and-forth affair, the momentum shifting in unison with the rain getting heavier, slacking off, then surging back.
Orcas caught a break early, as a penalty kick off the foot of Wolf senior Cole White hit an updraft and sailed too high to kiss the back of the net.
Given a reprieve, the Vikings rattled home a pair of first-half goals, with Ethan Moss connecting on a penalty kick of his own before Joaquin Shanks Morales slipped a shot between defenders.
Down 2-0, things would have looked dire in some previous seasons.
But this year’s Wolf squad doesn’t break easily, and Coupeville’s defense stiffened up considerably after that.
The comeback trail began with a one-man rampage, with Preston Epp snaring the ball and charging pell-mell into Hell, beating the Orcas netminder in a one-on-one battle.
Given a spark of life, Coupeville responded, battering the Vikings defense with a bevy of shots.
Nick Guay, hunting goals. (Ryan Blouin photo)
The rapid-fire attack paid off, as a ball bounced off the goalie’s hands and landed in front of Wolf gunner Nick Guay, who was hanging out, minding his own business.
Presented with a gift, the silky senior flicked the ball right back where it came from, sending it to its proper home in the back of the net and knotting things up at 2-2.
A late save by Bronec, down on his knees and using his long arms to corral the ball, kept the stalemate in place as halftime arrived.
Whatever was said in the locker room worked, as the Wolves, wet but not entirely miserable, claimed the lead six minutes into the second half.
A scrum in front of the Orcas net attracted a crowd, with junior midfielder Angel Partida popping into the line of fire to bank the ball in for his first varsity goal.
The Vikings didn’t get to back-to-back state title games by giving up, however, and they kept coming.
Awarded another penalty kick, Moss proved to be just as deadly the second time around, forcing the game’s final tie with 20 minutes and change left in regulation.
With fans on the edges of their seats, the rain-slicked battle intensified, until Cole White stepped forward, grabbed the mic, and said, “You’re looking for a hero? Cause that’s me!”
Punching the ball past the Viking goalie with just seven minutes of action left to play out, the Wolf senior broke the tie and sent his teammates into hysterics.
Thankfully, the Wolves immediately refocused, with defenders like Andrew Williams, Hank Milnes, and Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim clamping down on the Orcas shooters.
Andrew Williams leads the charge. (Thomas Studer photo)
The Vikings had one almost sure thing in the final frantic moments, but the shooter dragged the ball too hard to the left, the orb sliding past the net as a whole bunch of pent-up breath came flooding out of the Wolves.
Then Hurlee Bronec stepped forward and sealed the deal, boldly making one final save while sprawled on the wet turf, setting off a major celebration.
And earning a slight nod of approval from twin brother Hunter up in the stands.
Guay’s goal was his team-best fourth of the season and gives him 12 for his CHS career, moving him out of a tie with Zane Bundy and into sole possession of 7th place on the all-time scoring chart.
White has three on the campaign, and seven for his run as a Wolf, while Epp’s first goal of the season was his sixth at the school.
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