Usually when the sun shines at a Northwest sporting event, it is a good thing.

However, for the Coupeville High School soccer team at Lakewood Thursday, Sept. 13, Old Sol was a nuisance.

The Cougars (1-1, 1-2-1) scored three first-half goals on the way to a 5-0 win while Coupeville goalkeeper McKayla Bailey and her defenders were staring into a low, setting sun.

In spite of the first-half difficulties, Bailey played a solid game, according to coach Dan d’Almeida, “smothering the ball” and earning 12 saves.

The Wolves played “pretty even” in possession in the middle of the field, d’Almeida said, in contrast to the loss to Cedarcrest earlier in the week. However, the Wolves couldn’t get a “through ball” and put up any points.

He added, “We will keep working on our counter attack; we are still one or two pieces short.”

Coupeville (0-2, 0-3) played the match down two starters; the injured players should be back for the next match at noon at Port Townsend Saturday, Sept. 15.