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Angel Partida, seen here last season, scored twice Wednesday in Coupeville’s soccer opener. (Jackie Saia photo)

Right into the deep end.

The Coupeville High School co-ed soccer team kicked off a new season Wednesday by traveling to the mainland to face an Auburn Adventist Academy program which has qualified for the state tourney the past two years.

And the Falcons, who thrashed La Conner in their own opener, proved to be as tough as advertised, bouncing the Wolves 5-2.

But while Coupeville starts the new campaign at 0-1 after the non-conference loss, Wolf coach Robert Wood came away pleased with a lot of what he saw.

“Good first game. Strong, big opponents,” he said. “Pleased with the team.

“Starting games are always an unknown in high school soccer. Coming together two weeks ago, they look good … we just need to do it better across the board.”

Angel Partida punched in both of Coupeville’s goals, pushing his career total to three.

His scores came off nimbly slipping through the defense to redirect rebounds past the Auburn goalie after Preston Epp and Sage Arends rattled the netminder with shots.

“Good shots on target, and both heads up plays,” Wood said.

Coupeville now gets to spend most of the rest of the month at home, playing four of its next five games at Mickey Clark Field.

First up is a 1:00 PM Saturday showdown with Crosspoint (0-0-1), which played to a 1-1 tie with La Conner in its first game of the new season.

Admission is free.

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Preston Epp is headed into his fifth, and final, season as a Wolf booter. (Jackie Saia photo)

They’re bringing everyone.

With the girls’ program sidelined by low turnout numbers, the Coupeville High School soccer team will be a co-ed one for the second straight season.

Wolf boys’ coach Robert Wood, who is headed into his fifth season at the helm, will continue to work with CHS girls’ pitch guru Kimberly Kisch, and the roster will be a mix.

Brynn Parker terrorizes a rival. (Jackie Saia photo)

Among the returning female players with previous co-ed experience are Ayden Wyman, Brynn Parker, and Frankie Tenore, while 8th grader sharpshooter Tamsin Ward headlines a group of very promising younger booters.

They’ll join a veteran team which boasts seven returning seniors, including two Wolves capping five-year runs in the red and black.

Preston Epp and Cael Wilson were the first 8th graders to take advantage of Coupeville’s move from 1A to 2B, immediately stepping on to the pitch while still CMS students.

Together, they’ve peppered rival goaltenders for 13 scores, while helping the Wolves bounce from one win to four, then five, and six during their time in uniform.

Coupeville went 6-6 last season, after starting 5-2, while playing in a very-tough nine-team “super conference” created by mixing five Northwest 2B/1B League rivals with four outsiders who join just for soccer.

The NWL has captured eight of the 12 trophies across the last three boys’ soccer state tourneys, with both Friday Harbor and Orcas Island winning titles.

Wolf senior Cael Wilson, who debuted as an 8th grader, has scored at least one goal in each of his four seasons. (Nick Guay photo)

Now the goal for Coupeville is to start strong again, then finisher stronger.

To get there, Wolf coaches will look for their veterans to lead the way.

“Athleticism is big this year, but the soccer IQ is also high with a big returning senior/junior class,” Wood said.

“Teamwork and tactics are better so far this year than in past — still really early,” he added.

“But there’s still an issue with myopic focus on the ball instead of quick play passing and moving the defense to solve an easier problem.”

With a co-ed roster, the Wolves are looking to add some JV games to their schedule and will kick off varsity play Wednesday with a non-conference road game at Auburn Adventist Academy.

After that, Coupeville is home for four of its next five, with a Saturday matinee against Crosspoint Academy offering the first chance for local fans to cram the stands at Mickey Clark Field.

Once again, Wood and Kisch will aim for building a winning mentality while getting both the boys’ and girls’ programs ready for the future.

“Focus is on enjoyment, culture, development, and marketing,” Wood said. “Always interested in soccer IQ and decision making while ensuring a high level of skill and technique.”

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Nezi Keiper shows off her college colors. (Photos property Edmonds College women’s soccer program)

The best defender in the biz is back on the pitch.

After taking a year off to focus on life, Coupeville High School grad Nezi Keiper is suiting up for the women’s soccer team at Edmonds College this fall.

The Tritons, who play in the Northwest Athletic Conference, kick off their season with a pair of friendlies this week, with the regular season starting August 28.

Edmonds has a 12-game schedule which runs through Oct. 30, with the possibility of playoff action after that.

Keiper, a slam-dunk inductee into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame after her graduation in 2023, was a standout student/athlete for the Wolves.

The hardest-hitting player on the field as a middle school football player, she was a star basketball and soccer athlete once she hit high school.

Keiper was a team captain and First-Team All-Conference pick for the Wolf pitch squad, joining with running mate Carolyn Lhamon to provide leadership and grit.

“You shall not pass!”

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Chris Cernick is chasing the dream, one drill, one shot, one practice at a time.

The Coupeville High School grad is back with the Snohomish Sky FC, a semi-pro soccer club, and was one of the booters featured in a Facebook post Thursday welcoming new players.

The Sky, who have men’s and women’s teams, participate in multiple leagues and play their home games at the Snohomish Sports Dome.

The club “places a strong emphasis on community engagement and social responsibility,” with their players “embodying strength not just as athletes, but as advocates for positive change.”

Cernick, who has been busy posting soccer videos on TikTok and finetuning his pitch skills, has embraced the Sky lifestyle.

“The training environment is more professional during training,” he said.

“We had a scrimmage against a Sunday league team, and I scored a goal, so things are looking good.”

Cernick, a 2020 grad, played basketball and soccer during his time at Coupeville High School.

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Wolf freshmen Lillian Ketterling (left) and Taylor Marrs are dual threats on the soccer pitch, able to score as players and refs. (Photo courtesy Emili Marrs)

They’re learning the game from every angle.

Incoming Coupeville High School freshmen Taylor Marrs and Lillian Ketterling are not only top soccer players, but they’re sanctioned refs as well.

The duo, who have attended clinics and done hours of online work to prepare, were making calls at this weekend’s Washington Rush Cup at Skagit River Park in Burlington.

That tournament drew tons of teams, with multiple Whidbey Island-based squads winning titles.

Ketterling and Marrs suit up for a Deception FC team which didn’t play in the tourney, allowing them time to pick up their first assignments as officials.

“They did a great job and are gaining a lot of experience and knowledge of the game,” said Wolf Mom Emili Marrs.

“Which I’m sure they will put to good use on the field as they are also both ready to play girls soccer this fall as freshmen.”

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