Two goals made all the difference Sept. 18, as the Springbank Phoenix overcame the Bert Church Chargers 2-0 in Airdrie – continuing its positive start to the 2018 high school girls soccer season. The win brings the Phoenix’s record to 2-0-0 in the Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA) this year, following a 5-2 win over the W.H. Croxford Cavaliers Sept. 13. After an evenly-fought first half ended goalless, Springbank forward Mikayla Wunsch broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half, when she re-directed a cross past Bert Church’s goalkeeper from just outside the six-yard box. The Phoenix doubled its lead five minutes later, when sophomore Ali Kieren bundled in a loose ball from close range, after the Chargers goalkeeper had spilled a cross on her goal line. Springbank’s head coach, Jen Mensah, said she was happy to see her team fight through what she deemed a “rocky start” in the first half. “We were kind of scrambling around, our heads weren’t really in the game, but we changed our formation at halftime and it worked to our advantage,” said Mensah, who is in her third year of coaching the team. Springbank enjoyed most of the scoring chances and corner kicks in the second half, as the team’s wingers used their pace on the flanks to keep the ball in the Chargers’ defensive third. The team looked comfortable in possession, as well, keeping the ball moving and forcing Bert Church to chase after it. “I think our team really came together towards the end,” Kieren said. Wunsch’s goal came off an inch-perfect cross from winger Kerigan Frampton, who beat two players on the right side of the field before sending in the ball. Frampton wreaked havoc on the Bert Church left back throughout the second half. “[Frampton is] a super skilled player, slows the pace of the game down, takes her time and makes big plays when she needs to,” Mensah said. Other key players for the Springbank offence in the second half were Grade 9 forward Kira Lopez – who Mensah said plays Tier 1 club soccer in Calgary – and Kieren, who showed her goal-scoring instinct to pick up the Phoenix’s second tally. “[Kieren] is a hockey goalie, but she’s had some soccer experience in the past,” Mensah said. “She’s definitely had an impact – she has some skills and some confidence, and she’s ready to go in there and fight for the ball.” According to Mensah, Springbank finished second in the RVSA last year. Despite a young squad this season that only includes three Grade 12 players, she said, the team looks primed for another successful campaign. “We’ve got a few new Grade 9s who are ready to step right in there, as if they’ve been playing with us for a couple of years,” she said. “It’s a very young team and I think we’re going to be making [formation] changes quite a bit, to see what goes best for us. We’ll build off today and get stronger as we go forward.” The Phoenix faced the Chestermere Lakers Sept. 20, after press time, and will continue its 2018 season with matches against the George McDougall Mustangs, Sept. 25, and the Bow Valley Bobcats, Sept. 27. The game against George McDougall will be at home, while the Phoenix will travel to Cochrane to play the Bobcats. Kick-off for all games is at 4:30 p.m.
