The Royal Bay Ravens senior girlsB次元官网网址� soccer team has been a force to be reckoned with since the start of the 2024 season.
A highly skilled group of athletes, they combined their raw talent with tireless determination and an ever-positive team culture to make them this yearB次元官网网址檚 provincial champions.
B次元官网网址淭his is the first B.C. sport championship in the history of Royal Bay Secondary School, and the school is very proud of these girls,B次元官网网址� said physical education department head and athletic director, Brian Hobson.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very special that they could bring this victory home to the school.B次元官网网址�
The victory, though, should come as no surprise.
The team lost only two games in the entire season and, at the Provincial level, managed to maintain an undefeated record.
But what was less obvious to outside observers was the unique approach taken by the teamB次元官网网址檚 coach, Angus Stewart.
B次元官网网址淲hen the girls approached me to coach their team I was thrilled, having coached most of them over the years at the league level,B次元官网网址� said Stewart. B次元官网网址淪ome of these girls IB次元官网网址檇 coached right back at the U4 level.B次元官网网址�
Knowing the girls and the level of talent that they possessed, and fully aware of the fact that the girls were already practicing with their other teams, Stewart and the girls decided that they would not add additional practices as a team.
B次元官网网址淚nstead, we would meet and work on team unity and team culture,B次元官网网址� Stewart said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to define that culture, but I guess it comes down to everyone being there for the same reason and being fully committed to supporting each other,B次元官网网址� Stewart said.
That approach bore fruit when, in the semi-final game, the team lost two players from their starting line-up to injuries.
B次元官网网址淔irst of all, there was so much talent on the team that it was hard to pick a starting line-up B次元官网网址� they all deserved a spot B次元官网网址� but when we had those injuries the rest of the team simply stepped up, filled in, and made it happen.B次元官网网址�
The depth of talent on the Royal Bay team was also demonstrated by the fact that, in the five Provincial Championship games, no single player dominated, leading to the selection of five different players as game MVPs. Those players included Cassie McKinty (who won the tournament MVP title), Brooklyn Erb, Maja Music, Laney Stewart, and Hayden Pakos.
Pressed to name any star players on the team, Stewart demurred.
B次元官网网址淭he team wasnB次元官网网址檛 like that. No player dominated. Instead, they all played together and supported one another throughout the season.B次元官网网址�
Stewart did offer his congratulations to Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 goalie, Emma Sparrow, who was the only grade 12 student on the team and who won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament and the Commissioners 16 award. Sparrow has also managed to secure a soccer scholarship to UBC.
B次元官网网址淓mma was fantastic and deserves that scholarship. But the fact is that I had refs come to me and tell me how it was almost impossible to pick the game MVPB次元官网网址檚,B次元官网网址� Stewart said. B次元官网网址淭hey would tell me that the girls played so well as a team that they were all stars.B次元官网网址�
It was an innovative approach and an amazing season for the Royal Bay Ravens, and one that theyB次元官网网址檙e sure to remember.
