Still smarting from their 3-0 defeat at home Sept. 12, the Coupeville Wolves were seeking revenge Thursday night at Waterman Field.

They managed to keep the Falcons at bay for 18 minutes in the first half until Kelsey Kimmel — on her way to a hat trick for the night — slammed the ball into the corner for the Falcons’ first score.

Megan Larmore and Grace Itaya combined for the second as they rolled over the Wolf goalie; Kimmel picked up her third just before the half and South Whidbey was on its way to a 5-0 shutout.

“Coupeville has an improving program,” Falcons Coach Paul Arand said.

“But then, so do we. We started a little slow then picked up the energy level to challenge them as a whole team,” he said.

And Arand feels that may be the key to this season — individual stars that are being supported by younger players rising to the occasion, especially with injuries still plaguing the team.

For instance, sophomore Karissa Thomas may be out for the season with a serious leg injury.

“I hurt my knee on Sunday playing for a mainland team,” Thomas said, still on crutches. “The doctor will let me know next week.”

But Larmore, Anna Lennon and Julie Iverson moved onto the field and showed good passing ability.

“Their help was crucial to the win, but I was impressed with the efforts of Hope Richards, Rachel Harris, Jennifer Shafer and Lauren Sandri, too,” Arand said.

Protecting the goal, Sandri was fierce in the back field, forcing Coupeville’s offense to make one mistake after another. And Christine Johnson made several important runs down the sideline to keep Coupeville (still winless at 0-8) off guard.

Itaya is excited about the season so far. “I’m really happy with this team, except for the setback with injuries, I think we’re doing pretty well,” Itaya said. “Everyone’s playing all out, which may be the cause of the injuries.”

She noted Kimmel’s pulled hamstring, Thomas’ knee and her own challenges: “I suffered a pull or tear in my calf muscle; but I can still play.”

For Itaya, scoring is always a high point of every game.

“But soccer is great when you plan ahead, have a plan in your mind and then make it happen. I love the exhilaration,” she said.

Planning ahead is always good, but Arand noted that soccer is hard because the dynamics change so quickly.

“You have to constantly change the plan as you play,” he said.

That was never more evident than in the team’s loss to Lakewood Oct. 3.

After Sandri’s 40-yard shot into the corner in the last minute, the score was 2-2, forcing a classic shoot-out.

After all five shots on both sides failed, Shafer made the goal.

“But the referee said he wasn’t ready and called it back,” the coach said. “We outplayed them for the whole game. The outcome was a little crazy.”

A junior this year, Harris cycles between midfield and defense.

“I like playing defender over midfield; defending my own goal feels like a better fit for my skills,” she said. “But I can feel the change; we’re doing good and getting better, especially with our passing game.”

Harris has been playing soccer for so long she couldn’t remember the details. “Since I was little, anyway.”

Tuesday at 6 p.m., the girls welcome Sultan (2-8) to Waterman Field.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or sports@southwhidbeyrecord.com.