The high-school girls’ soccer season is up and running, and Rocky View County’s teams have experienced varying degrees of success in the early weeks.
The Springbank Phoenix came into the Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA) campaign with guns blazing, winning its first two games by a collective score of 16-2 to ascend to the top of the league table. The Phoenix – which finished third in the division last year – overcame the Bert Church Chargers 5-1 Sept. 12, before dominating the Chestermere Lakers 11-1 Sept. 17.
Head coach Shawn Carder said he’s been pleased with his players’ early efforts.
“They’re playing ‘their’ game – they’re not letting the other team dictate the play,” he said. “They’re executing really well and coming together as a team. It’s exciting to see.”
Carder took over the coaching reins this year from Jen Mensah, who is now at Cochrane High School, and said the Morrison sisters – Grade 11 Makenna and Grade 9 Kailyn – have been the team’s top scorers, thus far.
“They’re new to the team this year but have been huge for us and have provided the bulk of the offence,” he said.
According to Lakers head coach Gary Mitschke, the start to the season has been tough, given Chestermere has a small roster with just a handful of available substitutes.
“We’ll see how this year goes, but with only 14 girls who came out for the team, starting out there, it was hard to even form a team in the first place,” he said.
Despite the thin lineup, the Lakers’ season opener Sept. 12 went well, as Chestermere defeated the George McDougall Mustangs 3-2. While the Airdrie-based team nearly mounted a late comeback with two goals in the second half, the Lakers’ back line held on to the one-goal cushion to secure the three points. Grade-12 players Reeham Geha notched a brace for Chestermere, while attacking midfielder Lindey Pribyl chipped in with a goal in the first half.
“Quite a few of [our players] don’t play club soccer, and we had only formed the team a few days before that, so it was nice to see them come together and get the win,” Mitschke said.
2018 was a special year for Chestermere High School’s girls' soccer program, according to Mitschke, with the team finishing second. The Lakers boasted an experienced roster with several players in Grade 12.
Two of the Lakers’ stalwarts from last year – Mackenzie Georgsen and Sharnae Sedres – are now playing soccer at the post-secondary level, with the SAIT Trojans and Mount Royal University Cougars, respectively.
“It was quite a different year compared to most of our years, where we’re not finishing as high in the standings,” Mitschke said.
The team that pipped the Lakers to the RVSA title in 2018 was the Cochrane Cobras, which won all eight of its division matches in a dominant display. Cochrane appears to be a formidable force again this season, winning its first game 5-1 against the still-winless Bow Valley Bobcats.
Carder said he expects Cochrane to be the Phoenix’s biggest challenge this year.
“I don’t want to project too much early on, after only two games, but it kind of looks like it’s us and Cochrane,” he said. “Hopefully – this would be my dream scenario – it will be the two of us battling it out for first place, and hopefully we can knock them off, this year.”
RVSA soccer games take place Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. For a full schedule, visit bit.ly/2kS2JQC
