Caledonia’s senior girls’ soccer team didn’t do as well as they’d hoped at provincials, placing 16th overall and losing all five of their games.
The team headed to the AA Girls provincials, held May 31 through June 2 in Courtenay, after winning the northwest zone finals against Smithers earlier last month. This was the eighth time in as many years Caledonia won the zone, and the team was aiming for a top 10 finish.
But that wasn’t in the cards for the team, starting off in the A pool of the tournament, and losing their first three games of the tournament. In the playoffs, Princess Margaret Secondary, from Surrey, won 2-0. And Kalamalka, from South Vernon, defeated Caledonia 3-0 in the final game of the tournament.
“We had an extremely tough pool,” said coach Duncan Stewart. “Burnsview finished runner up and should have won the final as they dominated the other team – four wins, one loss. Lambrick Park was fifth, meaning they finished the highest of all of the second placed round robin teams – four wins, one loss.”
The team travelled with a roster of 15 girls, meaning only four subs. Three players were injured and could not play in the championships.
“During our placing games, in my opinion, we outplayed both teams and had bucket loads of grade “A” chances on goal but could not score,” he said.
But there’s a bright side to the story, he pressed.
“We have 11 players returning next year, so they gained invaluable experience,” he said.
And the majority of those girls play TYSA select soccer as a group so they will continue to develop. Those players compete in a BC Cup tournament in July which should add to their competitive experience, he said.