Fall sports kick off busy schedules

After suffering successive losses to open the season, the La Conner High School girls' soccer team got on the board in a 10-2 non-conference home loss to Oak Harbor Sept. 9.

Still, an asterisk is in order.

The two La Conner goals were scored by Oak Harbor players on loan to the short-handed Lady Braves, who are still without their full roster due to eligibility and injury issues.

Head coach Christian Warman said some players need to complete the required 10 preseason practices to participate in matches.

The clash with the Lady Wildcats was essentially a scrimmage with a third big school foe following prior setbacks to Kamiak and East Valley of Yakima.

Warman was pleased with the effort his players – many of them underclassmen – put forth.

"We had some good things happen," he said, "but we had some adversity in the second half. We kind of lost our focus there. It was a tough week, playing against larger schools, but we still need to find a way to keep our focus."

The Lady Braves (0-4) resumed home action Sept. 14 with a hard-fought 3-0 defeat to another bigger school, Sedro-Woolley.

Warman is hoping his club can be at full strength when it hosts Friday Harbor tomorrow (Thursday) at 4 p.m. The Lady Braves visit Mount Vernon Christian Saturday at 2 p.m.

The La Conner boys' team, meanwhile, debuted two weeks ago with a pair of tight setbacks. The Braves fell 2-1 to Rainier Christian and 3-1 to Riverside Christian. La Conner got a win with a 3-0 shutout victory at home over Concordia Christian Academy of Tacoma Sept. 17.

The Braves entertained NW2B/1B rival Coupeville yesterday. They play Grace Academy in a 4:30 p.m. home match Sept. 27.

The defending state 2B champion high school volleyball team, idle since a straight-sets season debut triumph over 2A Anacortes, returned to action late Monday, at home opposite Sehome. Coach Suzanne Marble's chargers sail to Friday Harbor tomorrow for a 3:30 p.m. match with the Lady Wolverines.

The La Conner football team, whose first two scheduled games were canceled – one due to poor air quality from wildfires – fell 52-0 at Friday Harbor Sept. 16. The Braves look to regroup at home this Friday (7 p.m.) in a conference clash with Coupeville.