The Royal Bay Ravens senior girls would rather have been playing in yesterdayB次元官网网址檚 Ryan Cup soccer semifinals and competing for a spot in next weekB次元官网网址檚 final.
But TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 3-2 home loss to StellyB次元官网网址檚 in the city championship quarter-finals leaves the Colwood team with more time to prepare for the Island AA championships.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l probably actually keep things light for our next training session, because now we have a little bit of time to prep,B次元官网网址� said RavensB次元官网网址� head coach Mariel Solsberg, noting that her players were B次元官网网址渢he quietest theyB次元官网网址檝e ever beenB次元官网网址� after the loss.
B次元官网网址淭o be honest itB次元官网网址檚 quite nice that we have a little more time to focus on our technical side, rather than always having a game every week.B次元官网网址�
Getting players out to practice can be tough, she added, since theyB次元官网网址檙e committed to a number of different activities.
Royal Bay was dominant in the A/AA league this spring, going 6-0-1 and allowing just one goal against. Despite going undefeated, the Ravens lost the league title to St. Michaels University School. The teams played to a scoreless draw back on April 26, but SMUS was awarded first place due to not giving up a goal all season.
While their second-place league finish qualified them for the Islands, set for June 2 to 4 in Campbell River, Royal Bay players were focused on doing as well as possible in the Ryan Cup competition, Solsberg said. The Cup tournament is the true city championship in that it pits top teams from each of the tiers in a single-knockout format.
In TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 match, possession was spread fairly evenly between Royal Bay and StellyB次元官网网址檚 through the first half, which ended 2-2.
The Ravens largely carried the play in the second but were hard-pressed to come up with many quality scoring chances.
The winning goal came with only a few minutes left in regulation. StellyB次元官网网址檚 standout Erin Jackson, who scored both of her teamB次元官网网址檚 goals in the first half, took a pass up the middle and quickly fed Kelsey Boudreau, who drilled a long shot past the Royal Bay goalkeeper.
Brea Christie scored both Royal Bay goals in the opening half.
Asked what has made this group come together so well, Solsberg had a few theories.
B次元官网网址淚 think theyB次元官网网址檙e really just positive with one another. They all seem to want to get better, want to help each other get better B次元官网网址� I havenB次元官网网址檛 seen a group gel as quickly as they have. I donB次元官网网址檛 know what it is. If you look at the makeup of the team, itB次元官网网址檚 such a variety of people, such a variety of ages but for whatever reason it seems to click.B次元官网网址�
With a large number of Grade 9 and 10 players who would otherwise be playing in the junior girls division, the Ravens are a great development squad because the older players mentor the younger ones, she said.
B次元官网网址淪ome of our starters are Grade 9s, going up against Grade 11 and 12s, which I think is fairly unique, and they seemed to fit in quite well,B次元官网网址� Solsberg said. B次元官网网址淚 think that speaks volumes for the future for this group.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
