In its fourth year of existence, the Coupeville High School girls soccer program is preparing for a big turnaround in 2007.
Last year the Wolves went winless in the league. Their lone victory came in the first round of the playoffs with a 7-0 win over Concrete.
The class 2A/1A Cascade League is a tough one and Coupeville plays against the likes of Archbishop Murphy, Cedarcrest and King’s high schools during the season.
Last year, Archbishop Murphy beat Cedarcrest for the class 2A state championship and King’s finished third in class 1A.
Despite the stiff competition, fourth-year head coach Kim Sherman is confident the team will do better this year.
“We have gotten progressively better every year and this is the best team I’ve had so far at this point of the season,” she said. “Every year we’ve stepped up a little bit and we are going to win more league games this season.”
The Wolves return a number of experienced players including seniors Kim Weatherford, Erin Hickey and Sarah Vass, along with juniors Hannah Merrill, Britt Harpe, Alexa Hemphill and Brianna Raidy.
“I’ve gotten some good leadership from Erin Hickey, Kim Weatherford and Britt Harpe,” Sherman said. “This team has some dedicated athletes on the roster and they have the best fitness and best skills I’ve had in four years.”
Returning sophomores are Ashley Manker, who showed a lot of skill at the goal keeper’s position in 2006, and Caitlin Phillips.
“Ashley Manker has improved so much since last year. She has really worked hard over the summer,” Sherman said.
The Wolves also have a promising crop of freshmen and some new players who should help out as well.
Sherman said freshmen Chelsea Harpe and Casey Andrews are going to be good assets to the team, along with junior Mandi Murdy and sophomores Megan Smith and Michelle Riddle, who all played volleyball last year.
“Megan, Mandi and Michelle will all be starting players this season,” Sherman said.
Once again, King’s, Archbishop Murphy and Cdedarcrest will be the top teams in the league.
“It you take those three teams out, I think we can play with all the other teams in the league,” Sherman said. “The kids are excited and I have pushed them harder than I’ve ever pushed a team before and they are stepping up.”
The Wolves dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 non-league decision to La Conner in the opening game of the season Sept. 4.
The team also lost Moore for the remainder of the season when she suffered a fractured wrist after a collision in front of the La Conner goal early in the first half of action.
