Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
GOOD SHOW 鈥� Abby Rich of the Yukon Strikers U-11 girls squad dribbles around a North Shore Sharks defender during action in the North Shore Girls Soccer Club's 27th annual Thanksgiving Tournament this weekend in Burnaby. The Strikers won the game 5-0.
Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
SPLITS THE D 鈥� Cassidy Cairns attempts to work the ball past two B.C. opponents.
Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
TOUGH DEFENCE 鈥� Emily Organ challenges an opponent, while Amy Vanderklay (14) looks on Saturday in Burnaby.
Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
TAKING A BREAK 鈥� Taliya Lindley takes advantage of a break in the action to tie her shoe, while Alyssa Rusnak, left, keeper Sammy Demchuk, and Peyton Twardochleb await the action to return to their end.
Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
BREAKAWAY 鈥� Emily Gaw chases a ball towards the opposing goal.
Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
REASON TO CELEBRATE 鈥� U-11 Strikers coach Spencer Rich leads his team in a post-game cheer Saturday afternoon.
The Junior Selects weren't the only team making noise in Burnaby over the Thanksgiving weekend.
BURNABY, B.C. 鈥� The Junior Selects weren't the only team making noise in Burnaby over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Two Yukon Strikers girls' teams competed in the 27th annual Thanksgiving Tournament put on by the North Shore Girls Soccer Club, and each earned top results.
The U-11 Strikers won gold in an emotional come-from-behind victory Monday, defeating the North Shore Jellyfish 3-1.
Down 1-0 at the half, some excellent ball movement led to goals by Abby Rich and Emily Gaw, followed by an own goal by the Jellyfish after a Cassidy Cairns corner kick gave the Strikers all the insurance they needed.
The U-12 Strikers, meanwhile, lost a heartbreaker 3-2 in extra time to the Whistler Storm Monday to finish as tournament runner-ups in the U-12 Bronze division. Charlotte van Randen had both goals in the game.
The U-11 team played remarkable soccer all weekend, displaying a well-balanced offence and allowing just one goal against in four games.
"It was an amazing performance all-around by the whole team,鈥� head coach Spencer Rich told the Star. "We played a very creative style of soccer with some great triangle passing.鈥�
While Maren Bilksy and Sammy Demchuk were brilliant in net, a variety of players provided offence by committee up front.
The Strikers opened play by beating the North Shore Penguins 2-0 on goals by Peyton Twardochleb.
They won their second game 5-0 over the North Shore Sharks on goals by Cassidy Cairns (3), Abby Rich and Amy Vanderklay.
Their third game against the North Shore Chinooks ended in a hard-fought 0-0 tie, and saw the Strikers head straight to the tournament final versus the Jellyfish.
The U-12 division was played in a round-robin format, with rankings decided by wins and in-game scoring.
The final game saw Whistler tie the game on the final play of regulation, followed by an impromptu overtime period where the Storm scored again to clinch victory.
"We had a good tournament in the end,鈥� said coach Ed van Randen. "We're pretty happy. We ended up losing it in overtime, and I'm not sure why they did that. Truthfully, it was supposed to be a round robin, but whatever. That's what they did.鈥�
The U-12 team opened their tournament with a 5-0 win over the North Shore Phoenix with goals from Charlotte van Randen (3), Brooklyn Massie and Mary Londero.
They followed that up with a 7-2 shellacking over the Whistler Powederhounds. Goals were scored by Alyssa Rusnak (2), Abby Rich (2), Charlotte van Randen (2) and Jenika Lindley.
On Sunday, the Strikers beat the North Shore Chargers 5-0 behind strikes from Londero (2), Charlotte van Randen, Dana Sellars and Massie.
Coach van Randen was impressed with his team's play, and said next year his club may jump up to the Silver division.
"We didn't think they were ready for that, but they definitely were,鈥� he said. "When we got there, it was just so obvious. They could have played up in the next level for sure.鈥�
The tournament was a far cry from the two clubs' performances in a Juneau tournament in late June.
"We've taught them how to play,鈥� Rich said. "On a big field, you have to learn to play a spot. If you don't play your spot correctly, the team will lose.鈥�
The girls took to their instruction and began to take pride in simply doing their job, making their coaches proud in the process.
The U-11 tournament included girls from all skill levels, which provided a solid measuring stick for the Strikers, said Rich.
He said the win was "very motivational鈥� to the girls, and "speaks well to the future of this particular group.鈥�
"They've got amazing potential in them,鈥� Rich said. "With hard work, I've got high hopes for this group to have continued success.鈥�
In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.
Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.
Comments (1)
Up 15 Down 0
Proud Parent on Oct 17, 2013 at 5:38 am
So much news is negative and controversial. Not this story!!! I am one of the proud parents who went along on this trip and have to say these young girls represented the Yukon VERY well. They are are a group of very respectful, fun loving kids who also enjoy soccer very much. The coaches have taken a group of good kids with limited soccer skills and in short time provided an opportunity for them to advance their skills leaps and bounds. More importantly, here is a group of young girls who now have a sport they enjoy and can invest time and efforts improving themselves. Way to go coaches and team, look for this group of girls to continue to represent the Yukon well in soccer as well in general.