With two straight wins and a 9-2 goal-differential, the St. Martin de Porres boys’ soccer team is off to a fantastic start in its 2019 high school soccer season.
The Kodiaks competes in Division 3 of the Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association, and is tied for first with a 2-0-0 record.
St. Martin de Porres’ season kicked off in Cochrane April 16 with an emphatic 7-1 win over the St. Timothy Thunder.
“A great starter game against St. Tim’s, 7-1, which gave us the ability to play some of our newer players and figure out their best foot on this team,” said one of the team’s coaches, Jessica Hamilton.
The Kodiak’s next match-up was a much tougher test. Playing April 18 against the Queen Elizabeth Knights, the squad battled for 90 minutes to leave the pitch as 2-1 victors.
“[Queen Elizabeth] has always been a great opponent, and working with some newer players and figuring out who we have on the bench, it was really important we figure out our lines and our strategies going into it,” Hamilton said. “They worked hard and played a great game.”
The first half was evenly fought, as the Kodiaks and the Knights headed into the halftime break square at 1-1. St. Martin’s goal came from attacking midfielder Diego Rodriguez, who recently moved to Airdrie from Chile.
“He’s a hard worker, and that [pairs well] with our captain Chris [Roberts], who has been really giving some good direction and getting these boys organized,” Hamilton said.
The Kodiaks took the lead mid-way through the second half. Roberts pounced on a bouncing ball over the Queen Elizabeth back four, and dinked a shot with the outside of his foot over the Knights goalkeeper into the back of the net.
Scoring against the Knights was extra sweet for Roberts, according to Hamilton, as the Grade-12 player suffered a season-ending injury when the two teams faced off last year.
“This game was a little nerve-wracking [for Roberts],” she said. “So, for him to come in and be able to have that composure and control everything – he’s an amazing captain.”
The Kodiaks’ win was almost spoiled in the final minute, however, when the Knights launched forward one last desperate attack.
The Knights’ cross came in from the left side and was side-footed by a forward towards the Kodiaks’ top corner. A spectacular diving save from St. Martin goalkeeper Nathan Canas rescued the team’s lead. He flew off his line and palmed the ball over the cross bar for a corner kick, prompting a huge cheer from his teammates.
The Kodiaks defended the ensuing corner kick, before the final whistle sounded, ending the match.
Considering the team has lost to the Knights in recent seasons, Hamilton said collecting all three points was a big step forward.
“I think beating these guys this early in the season will hopefully give us the push to continue winning and go for that banner,” she said.
St. Martin de Porres continued its season April 24 (after press time) against Father Lacombe.
The Kodiaks will return to the pitch April 30, for its first home match, against the John G. Diefenbaker Chiefs. The game is set for 4:30 p.m. at St. Martin de Porres High School.
