Islander goalie Kenzie Perry (photo bomber at right), seen here last summer, was one of four players out Saturday with illness or injury. (Kali Barrio photo)
“I can’t wait to see what we can do with a full strength squad!”
It’s a nice thought, but one that will have to wait for another day, as injuries and illness continue to plague Sean LeVine’s GU18 Whidbey Islanders soccer squad.
With four girls out, including Kenzie Perry, the team’s only goalie, the Islanders put up a strong fight Saturday in Redmond but couldn’t hold off a very strong Crossfire squad.
Whidbey fell 3-0, but it was a battle to the end.
The Crossfire benefited from a controversial yellow card called on Whidbey defender Jacki Ginnings for “taking a player out in the box,” giving them a penalty kick they successfully converted.
“I thought it was just outside the box,” LeVine said. “But the refs apparently didn’t care for my opinion…”
Whidbey had several scoring opportunities (“second half we played better, connecting passes, and even creating a few chances on their goal”), with the best being a point-blank rocket by Micky LeVine that was knocked away by the Crossfire goalie at the last moment.
With no Perry on the field, the Islanders went with a tag team of Morgan Zylstra and Bailee Olsen in net, and the duo combined for 22 saves. For Olsen, it was a return to her younger days, as she hasn’t played goalie in years.
“Bailee did quite well,” Sean LeVine said. “It was a great experience, and our players improved as the game went on.”
The Islanders have a week to improve their health, with the team’s next match in Renton Sunday, Feb. 9.
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