Wildcats tied for first in WESCO

March 29, 2002 8:00 pm
Oak Harbor second baseman Sarah Bottenberg takes off for first after picking up a base hit in the bottom of the seventh inning against Arlington.
Oak Harbor second baseman Sarah Bottenberg takes off for first after picking up a base hit in the bottom of the seventh inning against Arlington.

The Oak Harbor soccer team continued to offer up a strong defense in a pair of victories last week.

The Wildcats moved to 5-0-1 on the season, knocking off Lake Stevens 3-0 on Tuesday at a frigid Memorial Stadium, and then beating Mount Vernon 2-1 on Thursday.

The Cats have given up just three goals so far on the season, and only one has been during the course of play (two came on penalty kicks).

“The defense is doing the same great job every night,” said head coach Steve Barker. “You really have to give those guys credit.”

Oak Harbor got three goals from three different players in the win over Lake Stevens.

The Cats got on the board first after several close chances in the the first half. Near the end of the first half, substitute forward Cody Parker took a feed from Grant Bull off of a Dan Hinkley corner kick and found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

“I was just standing there and I got it right on my foot and put it in,” said Parker about his first score of the season.

Chad Ausmus and Kyle Rip added goals in the second half to make the final 3-0.

“The work rate turned the game around for us,” said Barker. “The team is working really hard and we have intelligent players who know what to do. So far it’s working.”

Hinkley scored both goals, the second one off of assists from Bull and Brent Thompson, in the Cats’ 2-1 victory over Mount Vernon on Thursday.

With the two wins, the Wildcats stayed even with the Snohomish Panthers for first in the Wesco North Division.

“It has been pretty nice,” said Parker. “We are putting a lot of hard work in but it feels good to be winning.”

Oak Harbor hosts the Stanwood Spartans today at Memorial Stadium.

Oak Harbor 3, Lake Stevens 0

At Memorial Stadium, Oak Harbor

Goals: Oak Harbor: Parker (Bull, Hinkley), Ausmus, Rip.Goalkeepers: Oak Harbor: Moreno, Brabner. Lake Stevens: Ferrucci, Keller. Records: Oak Harbor 4-0-1 in league and overall. Lake Stevens 1-4, 1-4.

Oak Harbor 2, Mount Vernon 1

At Mount Vernon

Goals: Oak Harbor: Hinkley, Hinkley (Bull, Thompson). Mount Vernon: Unknown (PK). Goalkeepers: Oak Harbor: Brabner, Mount Vernon NA. Records: Oak Harbor 5-0-1 in league, 5-0-1 overall. Mount Vernon 3-3, 3-3.