By TIM ADAMS
Sports editor
Tuesday’s 2-1 victory in double overtime over undefeated Archbishop Murphy was the biggest win in the history of the Coupeville High School soccer program.
Under the direction of head coach Paul Mendes the Wolves have played a tough and aggressive style of soccer all season long, and that effort has resulted in every victory setting a new school record.
“We beat the first place team and they were undefeated,” Mendes said. “We lost to them the last time we played by a 1-0 score and we just waited for the second chance. We made the most of it tonight.”
Early in the match it appeared Archbishop Murphy would be able to leave Mickey Clark Field with its perfect record unscathed.
Matt Leen, off a Sean Ryan assist, gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead just six minutes into the match. However, that was the last time Wolf Pack goal keeper Evan Ameluxen-Coleman would fail to turn back a shot.
The junior net minder made several spectacular diving saves on scoring attempts, and was helped along by his teammates who controlled ball movenent in the middle of the field and kept the pressure off the Coupeville goal.
The Tigers held on to the 1-0 advantage at the halftime break.
At the 56-minute mark, Coupeville’s Mitch Stevenson tied the score with a header off a corner kick, but that was only the beginning of the heroics for the sophomore midfielder.
“I love it,” Stevenson said. “We beat the first place team and I’m so excited I don’t know what to say. I knew we could do it and we finally pulled it off.”
“I’m really proud of the guys,” Mendes said. “We got a goal down, but came back and didn’t give up.”
The scored remained tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time and continued to be knotted at the conclusion of the first 5-minute overtime period.
With six seconds remaining in the second overtime period the Wolves were awarded a corner kick and due to a delay by the Tigers, the officiating crew allowed the match to continue after time had expired.
Coupeville put a rush on in front of the net and senior Geoff Wacker had his header attempt bounce off an Archbishop Murphy player. Teammate Justin Adams gained control of the ball, but had his bicycle-kick scoring attempt glanced off the goal post.
With Tiger goal keeper Doug Ehlebracht now out of position, Stevenson pounced on the loose ball and drove the rebound home for the game-winning score.
“That last goal was just hustle and all kinds of second effort,” Mendes said. “It was about being hungry and making something out of nothing. I couldn’t be more proud of them, it was a great effort and a great win.”
The victory boosts the Wolf Pack’s season record in the Cascade Conference to an even 5-5. Coupeville is 7-5 overall, and hosts Cedarcrest at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30, in its next home match.
