By Declan O’Malley

Weekly contributor

Lopez High School girls soccer coach Galen Westervelt has been named the Northwest 1B/2B Girls Soccer Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Lobos to a 7-0 start and a runner-up league finish in the program’s second season.

“The award is an absolutely massive honor, but it means very little compared to how much it has meant to watch Lopez Island soccer claim a spot on the map,” Westervelt said. “Soccer has been my life, and it all started on the same patchy field our Lobos play on today. Back then, we dreamed of winning just a single match, let alone having a winning season. It has been pure pride and joy watching both our boys and girls programs excel these past two years, and to have the community rally around them and this sport the way it has.”

The Lady Lobos’ season was defined by resilience, growth and unity. Despite a small roster, the players arrived prepared after a committed offseason and went on to compete against programs much larger than their own. Their bond carried them to a second-place league finish, a postseason berth and an impressive showing in the first round of the state tournament against the top-ranked team. The year also featured signature wins, including a landmark victory over Mount Vernon Christian, which had not lost a league match in seven years. Through every challenge, the team’s deep care for one another fueled a remarkable season.

Westervelt said the program’s growth in year two was built on a foundation established during its inaugural season.

“Last season was the first year of the program for our Lady Lobos,” Westervelt said. “We laid the groundwork and created a supportive culture. This year, we were able to take that healthy, competitive culture and push each other past our individual comfort zones and expectations. With only a couple of victories last year, we started this year 7-0—undefeated—a testament to how hungry and ready the girls were to prove themselves from the start.”

He added that the team’s most important development came from maintaining and strengthening that culture.

“The most important piece of the puzzle we unlocked this year wasn’t the tactics or the skills—which were far past my expectations—but the ability to demand more of one another while maintaining that supportive culture that made it feel safe to dig deeper and push harder every match,” he said.

Westervelt’s coaching philosophy centers on building a positive, player-led environment.

“I still play soccer at a competitive level around the U.S. and Europe,” he said. “As a player, I am only at my best when I know I’m on the field with a group that has my back and wants to see me succeed. As a coach, I believe the only place to start building a truly successful program is with its culture. I believe in transparency and collaboration with every player to make them as much a part of what is being built as possible.”

That approach shaped the team’s identity this season.

“This was a player-led program, and it was an honor to set the tone, prompt the proper reflections and simply facilitate for this amazing group of young women,” Westervelt said. “Soccer should be played boldly and freely, and that all starts with having a safe and supportive foundation to fall back on when our brave efforts don’t pan out. But this year, those efforts most certainly did.”