More than a thousand teenage soccer players will take over playing fields in Langford and Colwood this weekend for the Lower Island District Cup.

Girls and boys U-13 to U-18 teams representing 10 organizations will vie for glory in one of the largest soccer tournaments on the Island. The pressure is on in a single-knockout format for the championship.

Karen Thompson, with the Lower Island Soccer Association, expects high-calibre games from top teams from across the region and the Cowichan Valley.

B次元官网网址淓ach game is a final game,B次元官网网址� Thompson said. B次元官网网址淧eople are encouraged to come and support the teams and to pray for sunshine.B次元官网网址�

Games will run on the three grass fields at West Shore Parks and Recreation and the two artificial turf fields at City Centre Park in Langford.

Juan de Fuca soccer president Dave Johnson said LangfordB次元官网网址檚 addition of the turf fields has made it possible for the West Shore to host these large tournaments.

In the past, JDF soccer simply didnB次元官网网址檛 have the facilities to host more than a thousand kids and coaches, and hasnB次元官网网址檛 hosted this final B次元官网网址渋n many years,B次元官网网址� Johnson said. B次元官网网址淲e are thankful Langford built those all-weather pitches,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e couldnB次元官网网址檛 do it without the turf fields. School fields just wouldnB次元官网网址檛 hold up. ItB次元官网网址檚 what was needed.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 wonderful. We canB次元官网网址檛 get rained out.B次元官网网址�

Staff at West Shore recreation are working hard to get their three grass fields in playing shape for the weekend after coming off a tournament leading to the finals.

B次元官网网址淲e just had hundreds of kids on those fields, now theyB次元官网网址檙e trying to prep it all and get the grass back.B次元官网网址�

For a schedule of games, see www.lowerislandsoccer.com.