Closer, but not close enough.
Playing defending state champ Friday Harbor for the second time this season, the Coupeville High School soccer squad shaved three goals off their margin of defeat.
But the Wolves still took the loss Tuesday, falling 4-1 on the road, and this time around it counts as a conference game.
The defeat drops CHS to 2-2 in Northwest 2B/1B League action, 5-3 overall.
For the moment, that pushes Coupeville from 2nd place in the nine-team league to 5th, but the Wolves get a quick turnaround.
The co-ed squad hits the road again Thursday, traveling to Marysville to play Providence Classical Christian (2-1, 6-3).
While the break between games is short, the Wolves will focus on their inner strength between now and Thursday.
“Improvement from our first game against them,” said CHS coach Robert Wood. “But overall, poor play and laziness most of the night by many players.
“Much work and meditation to internalize before Providence … or else.”
Tuesday’s tilt featured two of the top four teams in the current Washington Interscholastic Activities Association RPI rankings, as Friday Harbor sits at #1 and Coupeville slots in at #4.
The Wolves only losses this season have come to the Wolverines — one considered a league game; one considered a non-league rumble — and a one-goal nailbiter against #3 Mount Vernon Christian.
Junior forward Cael Wilson cracked a shot from 25 yards out to account for Coupeville’s lone score this time around.
It was his first goal of the season, and fifth of his career.
Wilson, who is the sixth Wolf to score a varsity goal this campaign, has now scored in four consecutive seasons, as he debuted for the Wolves as an 8th grader.
JV holds its own:
Coupeville’s second squad fought Friday Harbor to a 1-1 tie, lifting its record to 0-2-1 on the season.
Dane Hadsall scored for the Wolves, notching his first goal, redirecting a through-ball delivered his way by Sage Arends.





















































