As hosts of both the triple-A Island and B.C. championships in May, the Stelly’s Stingers would love nothing more than to be in the hunt for both senior girls soccer competitions.
“We are so excited to host the Islands and especially the provincials. We last hosted the provincials in 2010 and it was an incredible experience for our team — both in the planning of the tournament and of course in the competition itself,” said Stingers coach Jackie Cunningham, who is also the league commissioner for the Lower Island.
“It is a very special way for teams to finish their seasons at the championships, especially graduating players. It is so tough just to qualify for provincials, it makes you realize how special it is to host and get the host berth.”
But with that comes added pressures, although with 10 returning players, the Stingers should face up to the challenge.
“Obviously, we want our team to do well, but the real pressure will be to host the best tournament possible and show the rest of B.C. how amazing Victoria is and how strong Island soccer is,” said Cunningham.
Regular-season action commences today on three fronts in triple-A play, while single-A and double-A kicks off on Tuesday.
The defending Ryan Cup city champion Stingers open against Reynolds at Layritz turf, while defending triple-A Island champion Oak Bay heads off to face Belmont, the same team the Breakers defeated for that title. Mount Douglas visits Claremont at Lochside turf with all three games beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Spectrum has the opening bye in the season, which promises to be another competitive year.
“As always, the league should be an exciting showdown between any number of teams,” said Cunningham. “Oak Bay finished a strong third in the B.C.’s last year and are returning much of that squad.
“Reynolds is always a powerhouse and an extremely well-organized squad. Belmont was also at provincials last year and returns many Grade 10s and 11s from last year’s team and they are Island runners-up from last season. Mount Doug and Claremont are always contenders and have some excellent athletes.
“At the end of the day, it will be a very strong league,” stressed Cunningham. “Last year, four points separated first through fourth place.”
Defending Island double-A champions, the Lambrick Park Pride, head up the single-A/double-A portion of league play with St. Michaels University School, Glenlyon Norfolk School, Parkland, St. Margaret’s, Esquimalt and Vic High rounding out that division.
Ryan Cup quarter-finals are set for April 30, with semifinals to follow on May 5 and the championship game set for May 7 at UVic turf fields.
Single-A Islands (site TBD) and provincials (at Southridge) are set for May 8-9 and May 28-30, respectively, while double-A Islands (also TBD) and B.C.’s (at Crofton House) go May 11-12 and May 28-30, respectively.
Stelly’s plays host to Islands on May 11-12 and provincials May 28-30 for triple-A.
Brent Garroway’s Oak Bay Breakers are the defending Island triple-A champions, after losing the Ryan Cup city championship 2-0 to Stelly’s. He’ll have six to seven starters back.
“Last year was sort of the end of our rebuilding year so we’re expecting to have a strong season,” he said. “It’s a good group of girls.”
Up front, the Breakers will be led by Holly Goodacre and captain Meaghan Kivell. Goodacre recorded a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over the Belmont Bulldogs in the 2014 Island final.
Grade 10 talent Sophie de Geode, fresh off a solid basketball season, will control the centre midfield for the Breakers and Grade 11 student Caroline Crossley will hold the back line for Garroway. Crossley will be away this week as she is with the national rugby team in Hong Kong.
“You never quite know where you’ll place during the season, but hopefully we’ll build up to a strong end of the year,” said Garroway. “Stelly’s should be extremely strong, having won city’s last year and their juniors won provincials. And Belmont and Claremont are always competitive.”
Stelly’s will be led by captains Kiara Kilbey (a Vikes soccer recruit for 2015), Neesha Nandrha and Carley Squire.
