Some of the Semiahmoo Peninsula's best soccer players had a great start to the summer, with two Coastal FC teams (U15 girls and U14 boys) winning gold at provincials at the end of June.
Now – having qualified for nationals – the U15 girls squad is preparing to travel to Edmonton, Alta. from Aug. 14-18, where they'll compete for the Canadian title.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how well the girls perform. We have some of the best players in the country on our team," coach Steven Duffy said. "I'm excited to see them demonstrate their skills and compete; they are a lot of fun to watch!"
Both teams enjoyed success as well as challenges throughout the regular season, as well as the U14 girls team, who also made it to the provincial final.
The U15 girls were plagued by injury during the regular season, Duffy explained, but recovered at the right time, growing stronger with each game.
After an amazing team effort in the final, they managed to win the provincials – for the third time in a row.
"The girls were extremely excited after the game. We spoke about the 'three-peat' throughout the entire cup run," Duffy said, but credited the other teams as well. "This is not normal at this level of play, as all the teams are very good. To win provincials three years in a row is an incredible achievement. I couldn't be prouder of what they have accomplished."
Duffy said the girls team is the most successful he has ever had the privilege to coach, having won every tournament, league and cup in which they've participated, with five players having advanced to the Whitecaps full-time program.
"As my time with the team comes to a close at the end of the tournament in August, we are hoping to finish with a great showing," he said.
For the U14 boys team, a slower start to the season just meant they had to work harder to make it to the provincial championship – which they did, after winning their last six games of the regular season, coach Aventino Sousa said.
Because they had lost their home field advantage, but a little travel to other Lower Mainland fields didn't bother them.
"We had a plan and we kept to the plan," Sousa said. "The boys were delighted with the win! It was a very hard thing to do."
Some players never get. a chance to play in the final, he noted.
"A lot of people didn’t give us a chance – we were the underdogs, no doubt about it – but we we knew the way we were training and the way our team was playing... we believed it."
Now, the team aims to qualify for nationals next year, he said.
"I’m super proud of the boys... very proud of them, and very proud of their run, and very happy for them they won it."
