A depleted Oak Harbor High School soccer team displayed its mettle by fighting to a 1-1 tie at Edmonds-Woodway Tuesday, April 19.

On paper it looked like an easy win for the Warriors. They entered the game with only one loss in 11 matches; Oak Harbor owned only three victories in 10 games.

The Wildcats were also hindered by injuries with several starters missing and others playing while hobbled or sick.

“Not all of our players had the skill level that E-W had,” Oak Harbor coach Brian Thompson said, “but (our) players have more heart than most teams. They came out and never gave up for a second.”

Thompson lauded the play of reserves and players up from the junior varsity who filled in: “These players rose to the occasion, along with the remaining starters. We had players who were sick and injured that would not quit and played the whole game.”

Although the Warriors scored first, “we kept our heads up and played on,” Thompson said.

Oak Harbor knotted the score when Taylor Jackson was fouled just outside the penalty area, setting up a direct kick that JJ Mitchell drilled for the goal.

Neither team scored during the two five-minute overtime periods.

Oak Harbor (2-4-1, 3-6-2) entertains first-place Glacier Peak (7-0, 8-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 22.