Unable to hold an early lead, the Oak Harbor High School soccer team lost 2-1 to two-time defending state champion Squalicum 2-1 in the season opener at Bellingham Civic Stadium Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The Storm, now a 3A school, won the 2A state crowns in 2014 and 2015 after finishing third and fourth the previous two years.

Oak Harbor jumped to a 1-0 lead on a goal from Jenna Cooley.

Squalicum scored twice in the second half, getting the game winner in the 77th minute.

“The girls played well, especially in the first half,” Oak Harbor coach Mike Lonborg said. “The second half was OK for the first 20 minutes, but then we started getting tired.”

The defense played well even though it was missing a starter, he added.

Overall, it was “a good first start,” Lonborg said. “Some good things to build on, and then we showed some things we need to work on. Definitely a solid foundation to build on.”

Oak Harbor (0-1) goes to Mount Vernon (0-0-1) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, and then entertains Anacortes (1-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, in the home opener.