Lopez soccer chalking up victories

October 21, 2025 1:30 am
Gene Helfman photos. Senior Lobos (l-r) Nikolai Kazakov (24), Oliver Rick (12), and Evelyn Aguilar-Clavel (42) challenge La Conner players in the mens’ and ladies’ victories at home against La Conner.
Gene Helfman photos. Senior Lobos (l-r) Nikolai Kazakov (24), Oliver Rick (12), and Evelyn Aguilar-Clavel (42) challenge La Conner players in the mens’ and ladies’ victories at home against La Conner.

by Gene Helfman

Weekly contributor

The regular soccer season is winding down, and both teams have much to celebrate heading into the playoffs.

The Lady Lobos stand at 10 and 2, having chalked up seven straight wins before a loss to Mt. Vernon Christian. The ladies shut out seven teams, scoring 44 goals versus only 17 goals against. Scoring has been led by Iris Ervin-Mclean with 17 goals, followed closely by Evelyn Aguilar-Clavel with 13; Danna Aguilar-Clavel, Mae Krantz and Audrey Roush each have scored three times, Ava Bennett twice and keeper Naima Garcia once.

The home match against Friday Harbor on Oct. 8 ended at nil-nil in regulation, stayed tied for two overtimes, and then went to penalty kicks. Lopez emerged 3-1 on goals by Audrey Roush and Lou Lou and Fatima Velazquez, with goal-keeper Naima Garcia blocking all but one attempt. The Lopez men also boast a winning season, standing at seven wins, three losses and a draw versus Providence Classical Christian (whom they later defeated 2-1). The men shut out four teams while scoring 21 goals versus seven goals against. Adris Meissner has led scoring with eight goals (and seven assists!), followed by Sixto Velazquez with three goals, Benji Stevenson, Oliver Rick and Beau Spreine with two each. Irving Ponce Munoz, Ian Cankusic, Jack Bullock, Daniel Valencia and keeper Huck Henderson also contributed goals.

Ladies coach Galen Westervelt commented after the shutout win against Friday Harbor about what a decisive and exciting match everyone got to see. The girls really responded, especially given that they were just coming off their first loss of the season to Mt. Vernon Christian.

Tommer Roush, head coach of the mens team, reflected after Lopez’s 3-1 loss to undefeated Orcas (last year’s state champions) that the boys played exceedingly well, having played the day before against Providence. Orcas scored after 11 minutes but was held scoreless until the 24th minute into the second period, a 53-minute stalemate.

“I think we had them worried there for a while. They’re a very solid team as their record reflects. We played really well together and we’re looking forward to meeting them again in the playoffs,” he said.

Lady Lobos have a rematch with Mt. Vernon at home on Oct. 28, the same day the men host La Conner.