Wildcats moving in the right direction / Soccer

By Jim Waller • April 5, 2018 1:30 am

Although the Oak Harbor High School soccer team is still looking for its first win, it took two steps forward this week despite playing short-handed.

Because of spring break, the Wildcats were missing two players in a 3-0 loss to visiting Arlington Monday, April 2. Three more players were gone when Oak Harbor lost 3-2 at Everett Wednesday, April 4.

Arlington 3, Oak Harbor 0

“We played really well; I would argued that we were the better team,” Oak Harbor coach Jeff Laiblin said. “We controlled most of the game.”

Three mistakes and the inability to take advantage off offensive opportunities sunk the Wildcats, according to Laiblin.

“The good news is we are continuing to get better,” Laiblin said. “I was impressed with how several players stepped up with players absent due to spring break.”

He was especially pleased with the play of Mason Rhodes and Alex Johnston, who “played solid in the midfield for us.”

The Wildcats need to eliminate “gift goals” and need to continue to “progress in the right direction,” according to Laiblin.

“Where we have come as a team from where we began has been great,” he said. “Hopefully tomorrow (at Everett) is another great step.”

Everett 3, Oak Harbor 2

The Wildcats did, indeed, move forward in the match against the Seagulls, netting their first two goals of the season after being blanked in the first nine games.

Oak Harbor played a solid match, including the “best half of the season,” according to Laiblin.

Oak Harbor trailed 2-0 at halftime and then “dominated the second half with a performance I and the team are very proud of,” Laiblin said.

Fifteen minutes into the second period, Jaydon Wallace, with an assist from Rhodes, scored for Oak Harbor.

“Unfortunately the lone bad moment of the second half happened five minutes later and a very lucky goal was scored by Everett making it 3-1,” Laiblin said.

The determined Wildcats continued to attack, and Rhodes scored off an assist by Kanoa King with 10 minutes remaining.

From there, Oak Harbor pounded the Everett defense but was unable to hit the equalizer.

“Our spirited second half performance saw several players step up, most notably freshman Jonathan Pierce, who had his best performance of the season,” Laiblin said. “As we look to the future, this young team continues to improve and the future looks great. If we can put this performance, more importantly the second half performance, into the rest of our games, I believe we will see great results in the immediate future, one game at a time.”

Oak Harbor (0-8, 0-9-1) plays Meadowdale (3-2-1, 5-4-1) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, at Edmonds Stadium.