The U17 Girls soccer team accepted a challenge this year by moving up to the gold division after playing several years in the silver division. Through playing higher level teams this season, our girls have improved immensely, with many close games and several wins! Our steady improvement was witnessed (and well demonstrated) in the latest game on March 6, the first of four “cup games,” to qualify for going to the provincials.
Although the other team (Richmond) succeeded in getting the first goal, our team did not lose morale and tied the game soon thereafter. But, they didn’t stop there. Our team scored yet another goal, placing us in the lead two to one! Then, within the last four minutes of the game, Richmond managed to score one more goal, tying the game again at two to two, with only two minutes of the game remaining! The girls on our team knew that if we ended the match there, this would mean another 30 minutes of additional overtime to break the tie and then potentially a shootout if the added time ended with no score change. Shouts were heard over the field, “We cannot have a tie! We need to catch the ferry!” The girls knew they only had a few minutes left in the game. Despite being physically exhausted, they were determined!
As a team, they carried the ball from our defense, passing it to the midfielders and pushing it forward up to the right wing. A long powerful shot was taken, bouncing off the crossbar and back into the field, just meters from the net. Still no goal. But they persisted – another player was ready for that rebound and tucked the ball in fast! A victory goal, with under a minute of the game remaining. This vicious goal broke the other team’s spirits, and just like that they fell to the ground in utter despair. Even with a few seconds left in the match and a chance at an advantage play, they knew the day was ours! As such, Storm U17 girls won the cup game three to two!
Congratulations to all the players! We are looking forward to the next cup game on April 3.
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