Islanders go 1-1-2 at tournament

The GU18 Whidbey Islanders soccer team finished with a 1-1-2 record at the Crossfire Select Tournament in Redmond July 26-28.

The GU18 Whidbey Islanders soccer team finished with a 1-1-2 record at the Crossfire Select Tournament in Redmond July 26-28.

The Islanders continue tournament play this weekend when they travel to Marysville to defend their title in the Strawberry Classic.

At Redmond, the Islanders opened pool play with a pair of draws, fighting through the heat and the disadvantage of missing several players.

Friday, Matti Miesle scored on a sharp through ball by Kendra Warwick as the Islanders tied Seattle United Shoreline 1-1.

In the first game Saturday with Fuerza FC High Perforance, the Islanders drew 0-0.

Coach Sean LeVine said, “This was an 8 a.m. game and we played lousy first half. Second half was better, but not good enough for the win.”

Later that day, the Islanders fell to FME Fusion of Fife/Milton 3-0. The Fusion were fueled by “a speedy player up front that earned a hat trick,” LeVine said.

The win lifted the Fusion into the tournament title game.

The Islanders played the Fusion in January in the State Cup and lost by the same score, but played better this time around, LeVine said.

The Islanders finished third in their pool and met the third-place team from the other pool, North Kitsap Blast, in the final game Sunday.

Behind a strong effort by goal keeper Makenzie Perry, the Islanders prevailed 1-0 in a shootout.

LeVine said, “We were absolutely shelled in the first half with Makenzie Perry making more saves then I could count.

“Second half we dramatically improved and had some chances on their goal including a near miss off of Paige Waterman’s head from a corner kick by Jennifer Spark.”

In the shootout, Spark, Warwick, Perry and Lydia Peplinski (a guest player from the U15 Islanders) all scored while Perry turned back the Blast for the win.

LeVine said, “We did not place in this tournament, but it was a great experience for the girls.”

Tags: