Young kickers win Mukilteo tourney

"Playing in the annual, season-ending Mukilteo Turkey Shoot, the Islanders U-11 girls team rang up five wins in 48 hours to take the championship trophy. "

“While South Whidbey High School’s girls soccer team was busy winning the third-place trophy at the state tournament in Federal Way Saturday, a team of 9- and 10 year-old South Whidbey soccer players was busy winning a trophy of its own in Mukilteo.Playing in the annual, season-ending Mukilteo Turkey Shoot, the Islanders U-11 girls team rang up five wins in 48 hours to take the championship trophy. Ranked second in Division 1 going into the tournament, the Islanders wound up playing one-third of their season schedule in those two days. The team breezed through its first three matchups, winning 4-0, 5-0, and 4-1 against district competition. In the semifinal game Saturday, Islander Dakota Hahn-Bradley made the difference on offense, scoring the only goal in a tight 1-0 win.Two-and-a-half hours later, the Islanders were back on the field. Playing the Cheetahs, the Islanders could kick their way only into a 1-1 tie, with Grace Itaya scoring the only South Whidbey goal off a Karissa Thomas assist.In the overtime shootout, the game and the championship came down to Islander Alexa Morley’s goalkeeping reflexes. She turned away one more shot than did her Cheetah counterpart, sealing a 4-3 shootout win for the Islanders. Kicking penalty shots for the Islanders in the shootout were Natasha Roberts, Kaley Mulcahy, Hillary Dealey-Thomanson, Martha Rocio Gil-Osorio, and Karissa Thomas.The team was coached by Dena and Al Thomas. “