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Posts Tagged ‘Orcas Island’

JV madness sweeps the hardcourt

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged , , , , on December 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Fab frosh Haylee Armstrong scored seven points Wednesday, while playing against her own team. (Photo courtesy Michelle Armstrong)

Then, things got weird.

Now stuff is always sort of kooky when Orcas Island comes to Coupeville, with the varsity playing first, and the JV second, in case anyone has to depart mid-game to sprint for the ferry.

But Wednesday night’s second game came with its own set of quirks.

Short story, the visiting Vikings made off with a 41-15 “win.”

The story behind the story? The game only went three quarters and two Coupeville players suited up for Orcas — and almost combined to outscore their real teammates.

The Vikings arrived in Cow Town with a short roster, so only had a handful of JV players.

To be able to play more than 3-on-3, Orcas reused many of their younger varsity players, then added Wolf snipers Haylee Armstrong and Bryley Gilbert to the roster.

At which point Armstrong, arguably Coupeville’s best JV player, went off for seven points, while Gilbert banked home six in support.

Combine them with scrappy Orcas players like 8th grade buzzsaw Ivy Shaefer, and the Vikings were ready to rumble, roaring out to a 14-2 lead.

Wolf 8th grader Tenley Stuurmans, dropping buckets while older sister Lyla did babysitter duty for CHS varsity coach Megan Richter, nailed back-to-back buckets to end the opening quarter.

That slowed the Orcas assault, but just for a hot second.

Once the second quarter began, the Vikings, powered by Armstrong and Gilbert, ripped off a 13-2 run to push the lead out to 27-8 at the half.

The third quarter offered Coupeville its best sustained offensive run, as Brynn Parker, Capri Anter, and Tenley Stuurmans combined on a 5-0 run.

But then Armstrong picked her classmates apart, rippling the net three times in the quarter to please her new, one-night-only teammates.

The final bucket for the Wolf freshman masquerading as a Viking was a pretty, pretty steal and breakaway bucket, the ball slipping through the net a millisecond before the buzzer sounded.

And that was where the night ended, a quarter short of a full game, as Orcas made a run for the boat and the refs tried to figure out what was going on.

In the end, Tenley Stuurmans led the “real” Wolves with eight points, while Parker (4), Lexis Drake (2), and Anter (1) also scored.

Taylor Marrs, Ava Lucero, Chelsi Stevens, Adie Maynes, and Ari Cunningham, 8th graders all, rounded out Kassie O’Neil’s rotation.

Coupeville, now 1-2 on the season, gets right back at it with a trip to Friday Harbor on Friday, followed by a home game Saturday against South Whidbey.

Hopefully with all their players wearing Wolf uniforms.

Coupeville’s female JV hoops stars hang out with their male counterparts. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

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No title, still best league

Posted in Boys Soccer, tagged , , , , on November 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Ethan Moss of Orcas takes a shot to the nads from Coupeville enforcer Cole White. (Jackie Saia photo)

Coupeville’s league continues to be the best in the state when it comes to fall boys’ soccer.

The Northwest 2B/1B League has claimed eight of 12 trophies across the past three state tournaments.

But while the NWL added two more hunks of hardware Saturday, for the first time in three years the nine-team conference failed to win the title.

Instead, it was third-ranked Upper Columbia Academy, an Eastern Washington private school out of Spangle, which claimed the first crown in program history.

Scoring both its goals in a furious first couple of minutes, the Lions edged fifth-seeded Orcas Island 2-0 in a game played in Federal Way.

Not only is this the first state title for UCA soccer, but the school, which finished 13-2, had never won a game at the big dance prior to this year.

After previously losing twice in the first round, the Lions toppled Mount Vernon Christian 2-1 and Riverside Christian 4-0 this time around before tangling with Orcas.

While the Vikings (12-6) failed in their bid to reclaim the title, they fought hard on a cool, foggy night, and have brought home a top-two trophy three straight seasons.

They were champs in 2021, then fell to league rival Friday Harbor in the finale last year.

After falling behind early against UCA, Orcas seemingly started to mount a comeback, only to have the refs puncture those dreams.

The Vikings rammed home a goal to cut the lead to 2-1 midway through the first half, but the score was waved off after the officials decided the islanders had roughed up the Lions goaltender during the play.

That was seriously debatable, and not a popular call among pro-Orcas supporters, but it stood.

The Vikings kept coming after that, mounting numerous charges, but could never completely bust through the UCA defense.

As the game progressed, things became increasingly more slap-happy, with Orcas booters frequently shoved by Lion defenders while trying to navigate a slick turf field.

Tempers flared, words were exchanged — both among players and fans — and three yellow cards were handed out, but the squads stopped short of igniting the full tilt brawl the announcers feared.

Saturday’s rumble brought an end to an eight-team tourney which began with a bang, as #1 Auburn Adventist Academy and #2 Friday Harbor were both eliminated in quarterfinal shockers.

Orcas beat Evergreen Lutheran 2-1 to open its state run, before toppling NWL mate Providence Classical Christian 3-1 in the semifinals, garnering some revenge for a regular-season loss.

PCC bounced back to beat Riverside Christian 2-1 in the 3rd/4th place contest.

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Tough loss, stellar season

Posted in soccer, tagged , , , , , on October 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Defensive ace Hank Milnes slapped home his first goal Tuesday afternoon. (Jackie Saia photo)

It was not the way they wanted to go out.

Buffeted by 15-20 mile per hour winds and “rain like I’ve never seen” Tuesday, the Coupeville High School varsity soccer squad was eliminated from playoff contention during a 10-1 loss on Orcas Island.

“Everything was miserable,” said Wolf coach Robert Wood. “Referee called the game 13 minutes early due to weather and safety. Miserable.”

While the loss ends Coupeville’s varsity season, the program’s JV players have one more contest to play, as they host Friday Harbor this Saturday.

Kickoff for that tilt is 2:30 PM.

“They (the players) deserve such a better memory to leave with,” Wood said. “Very much looking forward to Saturday’s game.”

While the weather and final score were hard to take, Coupeville did have one huge bright spot Tuesday afternoon.

Senior defender Hank Milnes notched the first goal of his prep career, becoming the 70th Wolf boy to score in a varsity game.

His shot to paydirt was set up by sophomore Ezra Boilek, who led CHS with eight goals this season.

“Absolutely gorgeous goal,” Wood said.

“Hank sends the ball deep for Ezra to run on to, he grabs the ball a couple dribbles to get past the defenders, gorgeous cross-feed back to Hank for the easy tap in goal.

“Too little too late, but oh so beautiful…”

Cole White, a good-natured terror on and off the pitch. (Andrew Williams photo)

While Coupeville misses the playoffs — the top four Northwest 2B/1B League teams have a ticket, and the Wolves are headed towards a 5th place finish — the season had big positives.

CHS was ranked as high as #4 in the state midway through the campaign and finishes 6-6 overall, 3-5 in conference action.

The six wins are the most for a Wolf squad in Wood’s four seasons at the helm of the program, and Coupeville can return a large chunk of its roster next year.

Seniors Cole White, Nick Guay, Andrew Williams, Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim, and Milnes depart, but Boilek, Preston Epp (seven career goals) and Cael Wilson (6) should be back.

One thing to watch will be whether Coupeville is able to relaunch its girls’ soccer program after a season off.

Eight female players joined the Wolf boys, with two — juniors Ayden Wyman and Bryley Gilbert — playing at the varsity level.

Bryley Gilbert looks for an opening in the defense. (Jackie Saia photo)

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Scrappy Wolves plunder Vikings

Posted in soccer, tagged , , , , on September 23, 2023| Leave a Comment »

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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Frustration on the floor

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , on September 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Big hitter Lyla Stuurmans rang up a team-high 18 kills Thursday night. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

There is a fork in the road. Which route do you take?

The Coupeville High School volleyball squad has 10 matches left on the regular season schedule, with seven of those coming against Northwest 2B/1B League foes.

Which means the Wolf spikers still have plenty of time to pull together, find a killer finishing touch, and rack up a whole bunch of wins.

Or continue to frustrate themselves and their coaches by being unable to fully harness their talent while settling for middle of the road status.

Coming off a five-set loss to Orcas Island Thursday in the conference opener for both teams, Coupeville finds itself at 0-1 in league play, 1-3 overall.

Two of those losses have come in five sets, and in both of those matches the Wolves were poised to win but didn’t.

Thursday’s defeat, coming to the tune of 25-22, 18-25, 19-25, 25-14, 15-8, wasn’t quite as much of a knife to the heart as their earlier loss to South Whidbey.

In that match, the Wolves led two sets to none, with match point in set #3, only to see things slip away.

But the Orcas defeat stings in its own special way, as it’s the first time a CHS varsity volleyball team has lost to a NWL rival other than four-time defending state champ La Conner since rejoining the league in 2020.

With those Braves (1-0, 1-4) struggling at times during their own rebuilding year, the race for the league crown seems to be wide open.

Coupeville’s next match? It’s at La Conner Sept. 26, after an appearance at this weekend’s South Whidbey Invite.

Time to choose your path.

CHS coach Cory Whitmore stresses a point in an earlier match. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Coming off an impressive three-set road sweep of Mount Vernon Christian in a match considered a non-league rumble, the Wolves hit their home floor, and promptly reverted to a work in progress.

Up 3-0 in the opening set after a couple nice serves from Katie Marti and a high-flying tip winner from Lyla Stuurmans, CHS then lost the lead and never got it back.

The last tie in the first frame came at 6-6, and while Orcas never really pulled away, the Vikings kept the Wolves at bay just long enough to net the set.

Stuurmans, who walloped a team-high 18 kills, smoked a couple of winners to keep things close, but the defining play was when two Wolves crashed through the bench in pursuit of a wayward ball.

The hustle was there, but the fact they had to go so far off course in an ultimately futile effort to prolong the play added to Coupeville’s frustration.

But then the Wolves started clicking, capturing the next two sets and playing more like the team which blew MVC off the floor.

Coupeville shot out to an 8-2 lead in the second set, with Mia Farris and Teagan Calkins racking up winners at the net, gave back the lead for a hot second, then flipped the offensive power show back on.

Grey Peabody and Stuurmans took turns torturing the Vikings, spraying winners and ripping off arms, while Madison McMillan brought the complete game, sparkling on serves and mid-range slicers which found openings in the Orcas defense.

With the match knotted at a set apiece, CHS stayed on the offensive, claiming the lead at 8-7 in the third and never giving the advantage back.

Katie Marti had a picture-perfect flip over her shoulder, the ball catching the Vikings flatfooted, while Stuurmans showed off the guns, mashing winners and flexing her biceps to crowd roars.

The biggest cheer came for fan favorite Jada Heaton, who clinched the third set by bounding skyward to crush a winner at set point after Orcas (barely) got a Stuurmans nuclear blast back into play.

Jada Heaton patrols the net. (Jackie Saia photo)

Things were looking peachy at that point, but unfortunately for home fans, it was deceptive.

As fast as the fun times arrived, they vanished for the Wolves, with Orcas riding its heavy hitter, senior Bethany Carter, who became a nearly flawless mash machine across the night’s final two sets.

The fourth set slipped away fast, a 9-3 deficit morphing into an 18-9 disadvantage for Coupeville.

One Orcas player airmailed a serve moments after accidentally hitting herself in the face while bouncing the ball at the service line, but that was small consolation for the Wolves.

All of which set up a fifth and deciding set, which looked like it would be a heavyweight brawl in the middle of the ring.

Until it suddenly wasn’t.

Three times in the final frame Coupeville players hit the floor and made one-handed saves to keep a point alive, with both Calkins and Marti doing it during the same rally.

But a 7-7 tie slipped away, with Orcas running off six straight points on its serve, and the Wolves never fully recovered.

In the aftermath of the loss, which leaves Coupeville winless at home this season, the quandary lingers.

The talent is there. The heart is there. But will these Wolves find their killer instinct?

Only time will tell.

 

Thursday stats:

Taylor Brotemarkle — 2 digs
Teagan Calkins — 4 kills, 5 digs, 1 block assist
Mia Farris — 5 kills, 20 digs, 2 aces
Jada Heaton — 2 kills, 3 digs, 1 block assist
Issabel Johnson — 1 assist, 3 aces
Katie Marti — 2 kills, 6 digs, 37 assists, 1 solo block, 1 ace
Madison McMillan — 1 kill, 20 digs, 2 assists, 5 aces
Grey Peabody — 10 kills, 2 digs
Lyla Stuurmans — 18 kills, 10 digs, 3 aces

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