The Lakehill FC Division 1 menB次元官网网址檚 team took home the Vancouver Island Soccer League (VISL) Cup trophy for the first time ever on Friday evening.
Despite the wind and rain, the Saanich-based team beat Gorge FC 4-2 at Braefoot Park on Feb. 7 B次元官网网址� game MVP Blair Sturrock and Wes Barrett each scored two goals. After 18 weeks of competition, the Saanich-based Division 1 menB次元官网网址檚 team became this seasonB次元官网网址檚 top club in the league.
What winning looks like! Congrats to Mark Bhopal and the Lakehill Div 1 men on the clubB次元官网网址檚 first ever Garrison Cup!
B次元官网网址� Lakehill Soccer (@LakehillSA)
A windy, rainy, cup-clinching night at Braefoot! Way to go Lakehill Div 1!
B次元官网网址� Lakehill Soccer (@LakehillSA)
The league started in 1895 and Lakehill FC had never won the League Cup B次元官网网址� called the Garrison Cup B次元官网网址� until this year, said Vince Greco, VISL executive director.
He pointed out that theyB次元官网网址檝e come close a few times, but that 2020 was Lakehill FCB次元官网网址檚 time to shine.
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B次元官网网址淔ull marks to themB次元官网网址� because this was a tough season, he said. There was no clear winner going in as Greco felt there were about five teams that had a good shot at winning.
The team that placed second in the league had been undefeated all season but had tied too many games, Greco said. He explained that tied games are worth fewer points than a win.
Lakehill FC will definitely have their work cut out for them next season as theyB次元官网网址檒l be B次元官网网址渙n the radar as the team to beat,B次元官网网址� he said.
Their first time, you always remember it ........ Feb 7/2020, and the capture the
B次元官网网址� Vince Greco (@vincenzo25)
But for now, the players and their coach, Mark Bhopal, are celebrating the win, he said. Their trophy is the same one that was awarded to the first League Cup winners in 1918. The sterling silver trophy is worth about $20,000 so the team was not allowed to take it to the after-party, Greco joked.
Bhopal, whoB次元官网网址檚 coached the team for six years, was B次元官网网址渞eally proud of the boys.B次元官网网址� He noted how grateful he is to coach a team of B次元官网网址渢op skilled athletesB次元官网网址� that have become like family.
In the next few weeks, the VISL teams will shift their focus to the upcoming playoffs to battle for the Jackson Cup B次元官网网址� which Greco explained is like the VISL version of the Stanley Cup.
The leagueB次元官网网址檚 Division 1 and 2 teams will face off in the playoffs so technically the Lakehill Division 1 team could end up playing against their Division 2 team in the finals, Greco explained.
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The Jackson Cup playoffs start next week and the finals are set to take place on Mar. 28 at the Westhills Stadium in Langford B次元官网网址� where the Pacific FC team plays. Tickets will be available at the gate and kids 12 and under get in for free, Greco said.
Anyone interested in joining a soccer team can reach out to Greco through the VISL before the next season starts in September.
B次元官网网址淪occer B次元官网网址� especially on the Island B次元官网网址� is such an all-inclusive sport,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that soccer helps people connect with their community.
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