Lopez pummels host La Conner

Unbeaten Lopez Island defeated La Conner 5-1 in an often-physical boys' soccer match at Whittaker Field Friday afternoon.

The Lobos, displaying deft passing and a relentless attack, scored the contest's first three goals before Simon Bouwens got La Conner on the scoreboard by booting a line shot past the Lopez keeper less than two minutes before intermission.

The visitors, who enjoyed a clear size advantage, added two unanswered goals in the second half.

"They're a very good team," La Conner head coach Galen McKnight said of the Lobos afterward.

McKnight noted further that several Lopez frontliners played soccer over the summer. That off-season work has paid dividends for the Lobos.

Lopez entered the clash in La Conner having defeated Grace Academy 5-0 and San Juan Islands rival Friday Harbor 2-1.

At La Conner, Lopez scored twice within a one-minute span early in the opening half.

A Lobos player converted a short shot at the 29:15 mark after La Conner goalie Tyler Cicotte had blocked a prior Lopez attempt.

The visitors increased their lead to 2-0 with 28:15 remaining in the half when a Lobos ­perimeter shot found the net.

Lopez went up 3-0 on a carom off a corner kick 11:30 before halftime.

Play was stopped several times throughout the contest due to collisions and penalties. Cicotte was head-butted in front of the goal and Hadden Zimmerman had a contact lens dislodged at one point. Zimmerman went to the sideline briefly in the second half to insert another lens.

Though Lopez displayed a stingy defense, La Conner managed a handful of attacks.

One of the Braves' best scoring threats came 10 minutes into the second half when Christian Fix fired a long pass to Jarret Hatch who in turn fed Bouwens for a shot on goal. That boot was blocked, however.

McKnight, whose team has suffered repeated close, single-goal setbacks, was pleased with the Braves' effort against a skilled Lopez club.

"The kids played really hard," he said. "We had some opportunities."

La Conner, which sports a misleading 0-5-1 record, resumed action Tuesday afternoon opposite Grace Academy. The Braves play at Mount Vernon Christian at 4 p.m. Thursday.

McKnight is confident La Conner's work ethic will translate to wins in the season's second half.

"This is one of the better teams we've had," he said.