The girls soccer team is young this year, with just two seniors, but sixth-year coach Paul Hopkins said they’re fast, they’re good ball handlers, and have solid experience to lead in key positions. Thirty-one students came to play this year, so the team will have 16 varsity players and a JV squad, as well.

Their toughest opponent, as always, is expected to be La Conner, jokingly referred to as “the evil empire” by Friday Harbor coaches.

“Every year it’s a battle to see who’s going to win the league,” said Hopkins. Just two teams from the league get to compete at districts, and the team that wins the first round at district gets a better first-round seed at state championships. The Wolverines played their first game at home against Evergreen Lutheran on Saturday morning, Sept. 2.

“Every team has a different personality team dynamic,” said Hopkins.

Since he hasn’t yet seen this team in a competitive game situation, he said he’s looking forward to that discovery.

“They are a great group of kids,” he said. “They’re working hard; they’ve got heart. We play aggressively, I do coach that – but we don’t play dirty… It’ll be a very interesting year.”