It was a night for the offense.

The Coupeville soccer team exploded for three goals and snared its first win of the season Thursday, Oct. 11, taking down visiting Sultan 3-1.

While the Wolves’ defense excelled lately and kept it in matches, the offense lagged. Not Thursday.

After scoring only one goal in the previous six matches, Coupeville used a variety of methods to collect its trio against Sultan (1-10, 2-11).

Midway through the first period, Amanda d’Almeida picked off a pass and fed Makana Stone, who beat the goalie for a 1-0 lead.

Sultan picked up the pressure after the break, according to CHS coach Dan d’Almeida, and evened the score 10 minutes into the second period.

Coupeville regained the lead midway through the half when Madison Tisa-McPhee scored over the goalie with a close chip shot from a throw in.

Five minutes later Amanda d’Almeida headed a ball to Haley Marx for a long-range goal.

Dan d’Almeida said his team’s defense was “sloppy” and not up to recent standards. That statement emphasizes the vast improvement and the expectations of the group which yielded only one goal after giving up six to the Turks earlier this year.

Coach d’Almeida said the defense wasn’t at its best, but its anchor, first-year keeper MaKayla Bailey, was rock-solid.

“She was a warrior,” he said. “She is not a rookie any more.”

Bailey had 14 saves, including stopping several rocket shots and attempts from point-blank range.

But it was a day for the offense. “Our counter attack caught them off guard,” Dan d’Almeida said. “We out played them; we had quality around the box.”

He also lauded his bench: “Everyone came in, gave us a good 10 minutes of effort and kept the momentum on our side.”

Coupeville (1-10, 1-12) plays at undefeated Archbishop Murphy (11-0, 13-0) at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16.