The Islanders did NOT wear these on the field this weekend, but probably wished they could have while playing in miserable conditions. (Alyssa Cross photo)
They came. They played. They survived.
Despite missing five players with injuries — including leading scorer Jacalyn Hefflefinger — and playing in often cold, wet, miserable conditions, the GU19 Whidbey Islanders select soccer squad sparkled in its return to the pitch this past weekend.
Playing at the Astro Turf Cup Girls College Showcase in front of college coaches and scouts, the Islanders escaped with two ties and two narrow losses to top teams.
It was the first action for the squad in several months, after players took an extended break for their high school seasons.
That time apart was filled with injury, as Hefflefinger, Jacki Ginnings, Paige Waterman, Vivien Valles and Jenn Spark were sidelined.
Valles (concussion) is expected back soon, but Hefflefinger (MCL tear) is sidelined for another six weeks, Waterman (ankle) falls in the “unknown return” category and Ginnings (concussions) and Spark (reconstructive knee surgery) are gone for the season.
In their place, a variety of guest players picked up the Islander mantle and wore it well.
Anni Field, an All-Conference Center Defender for South Whidbey High School, played despite having her own injury issues.
Her ACL is torn, but she’s currently wearing a brace and doing physical therapy. Which apparently includes being a rampaging force of nature on the soccer pitch.
“Anni stepped in and did outstanding,” said Islanders coach Sean LeVine. “Not only is she a strong player, she is very smart, cool under pressure, and she fits right in with our team.
“If she wasn’t so busy with her horse events she’d be heavily recruited by us,” he added. “Well, we did try a little and the invitation remains open.”
Joining her in the relief corps was Oak Harbor defender Alyssa Eden (“She is fast, strong, and tough and helped our back line look solid for the weekend. Even after taking a player’s head in her face at full speed, she still tried to finish out the game; that kid is tough!”), and Wildcat teammates Caylie Etherington and Suzanne Kaltenbach.
Etherington, younger sister of Islander Alyssa Cross, is only a freshman but already gaining notice for her play.
“Caylie is a pure soccer player! This kid is fluid, sharp on the ball, and very smart. She made our team better!,” LeVine said. “She plugged the middle up along side of her twin, Kendra Warwick, and was an expert at tackling the ball away from good players and distributing the ball to try to start an attack.
“She also finished the tourney playing some striker for us as I thought her near flawless play gave us the best chance to score,” he added. “We really loved having her!”
Kaltenbach is a veteran who the Islanders have tried to woo away from Northwest United. For a weekend at least, they got her.
“She was our first phone call when we were looking for players,” LeVine said. “This is one of the coolest young ladies I know. She sings, dances, smiles, and sometimes all WHILE playing soccer! She is very positive, super smart, and our players love her.
“On top of all that, she is an outstanding player. She has it all and would be good in any position, but, due to our depleted defense, she played center defender and was awesome,” he added. “Paired with Alyssa Cross in the middle, she helped keep our team in every game.”
With their hired guns complementing longtime Islanders such as Becca Pabona and Micky Levine, Whidbey opened the tourney by tying Velocity Green 0-0.
The game was postponed after the teams had warmed up in a cold downpour, then restarted an hour later. Playing in miserable conditions, the Islanders came dangerously close to scoring numerous times, but couldn’t quite break through.
Pabona put together a great back-and-forth run with Gillian Crossley, but the Velocity goalie stretched out for a last-second save. Later, on a ball from Erin Rosenkranz, Pabona crushed a ball that twisted just millimeters wide of a game-busting score.
Bothered by rain, snow and sub-arctic temps, the Islanders fell 3-1 to the Delta Coastal Selects of Canada and 4-0 to the Spokane Shadow, before bouncing back to notch a scoreless draw with Gala FC of Snohomish.
Bailee Olson, battling for a ball in front of the goal against the Canucks, pressured Delta into scoring an own goal, before the highly-ranked Canadian squad rallied for the win.
“That game could easily have gone 1-0 us, or 1-1,” LeVine said. “This was our best game of the tourney and I was very happy with how well we played.”
More injuries surfaced for the Islanders as the tourney played out, with starting goalie Kenzie Perry being sidelined with a shoulder injury. In her place, Ayla Muller (having recovered from her own injury issues) played strongly.
“She was on fire! Ayla flew around the box making several diving saves, sometimes twice!,” LeVine said. “Kid is da’ bomb keeper. I really think she is better now than she was before she had her knee injury. I’m excited to watch her fly around this season.
LeVine also singled out Alyssa Cross for having an especially strong tourney.
“I can’t tell you how much of a loss it is for us not having Jenn and Jacki! However, we’ve always known Alyssa can handle anything we throw at her,” LeVine said. “It was no question that we were going to move her to the center defender role. What we didn’t know is that she would step in and demolish all our expectations!
“She was nearly flawless! She is just so tough, faster than she thinks, strong, and very smart,” he added. “She is going to be GREAT for us this year and I have even higher expectations of her now.”
While the Islander players wait for emails and phone calls from college coaches who watched the tourney, they will prepare to kick off their regular season.
Up first is Seattle United, which comes to Ft. Nugent Saturday, Dec. 6 (12:30 PM kickoff).
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