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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