CANMORE – The Canmore Collegiate Wolverines' soccer girls season has come to a close.
The young team, made up mostly of Grade 9 and 10 girls battled it out against some of the most skilled teams in the region during the zone championships last Friday (Oct. 18) in Cochrane.
“We knew we were going to be facing a stiff challenge going up against some of these teams,” said Wolverines head coach Jason Thompson.
Just after the sun rose on Friday morning, the Wolverines played in their first of two seeding matches, against a powerful Springbank team.
“We decided to play with only two forwards, three midfielders and five defence," Thompson said. "It was a defensive formation.”
Despite the defensive tactic, the Wolverines fell 8-0 in the opening zones game . Just 30 minutes later, the girls were back on the pitch against league rivals from Okotoks, Foothills.
Thompson said the physicality of the game took its toll , as three Wolverines’ players had to leave the match due to injury. Foothills would go on to win the game 5-0.
In the knockout stages, the Wolverines faced another strong opponent from Cochrane. At the end of the first half, Canmore trailed 3-1. Attacker, Gabi Perez di Camino set up Ellie Thompson for the Wolverines only goal in the match. The final score was 7-1.
“Despite the score, I felt the game against Cochrane was our best one in the zones,” Thompson said.
Looking back at the season, Thompson and the other coaches Alaric Fish, Alan Feherty and Chelsey Richardson are pleased with the way the season turned out.
“For me personally, this was the most cohesive, supportive and enjoyable team I have had the pleasure to coach,” said Thompson.
Thompson was proud to see the way the senior Grade 12 students took the younger players under their wings.
“It was really fun watching this team grow up and bond. It’s such a family, it’s really special,” said Grade 12 player Jaiden Webster.
“The team was a real community on the pitch, but even more so off it. Even in the hallways at school, or in town, there was a sense of community between these girls that will hopefully last beyond this season,” Thompson added.
With three-quarters of the team made up of Grade 9 and 10 students, the coaching staff is already looking forward to next season. Throughout the season the younger players made a mark on the team, eating up lots of minutes and developing into stronger players to play against.
"I am really proud of our Grade 9s and 10s. They played with intesnity urgency and passion," said defender Anika Gasser.
“I think in another year the the girls will be bigger and stronger. It will be more of a case of women versus women, not girls versus women.”
