Two Squamish Youth Soccer Association girls' teams have clinched victory this season.
In February, the U13 girls clinched the BCCSL Divison 3 Championship, while the U14 Squamish United girls were crowned the leaders of the BCCSL Division 2.
The U13 team's final game pitted the two leading teams in the division against each other.
Squamish United managed to defeat the North Shore Sun-Stars on Feb. 13, with a shutout score of 1-0.
"We were kind of trading spots at the top of the table for the whole season," said coach Michel Lafreniere.
"It just happened according to our schedule that our final game of the season was going to be against each other. And the way it worked out is the winner of that game essentially would have been the league champion. Had they won that game, they would have beat us on points per game average."
Lafreniere, Linnea Voss and Dave Gaudin coached the team.
The game took place on a sunny day at Quest University.
"Our girls put consistent pressure on their team. And I think throughout the game, we traded a few chances," said Lafreniere.
"What ended up happening is one of our…defensive midfielders…Imogen Stavrou Johnson, she pushed up as a defensive midfielder. And she was able to place the ball over the keeper's head. And, ultimately, get that game-winning goal."
Natalie Good and Aymee Barron were each in net for half of the game, with their combined efforts leading to a shutout.
It was a hard-fought game, Lafreniere. said.
He said the attacking players, Cinnamon Tone-Unsworth, Jasmin Gill, Aya Pateman, and Sienna Bartlett, put consistent pressure on the opposing team.
Midfielders Klara Fielding, Bailey Washer and Madeleine Lafreniere were able to maintain dominance of the centre field, he added.
"It was an exciting game. And it just came down to that final whistle and we were out 1-0," the coach said.
The U14 team also played its final game on Feb. 13.
This game also was similarly important.
Coach Nicole Rempel said that it was a match that the girls needed to win if they were to end the season as the top team in their division.
The girls squared off against Richmond, and they beat the opposing team 4-0.
Ella Rempel made the first two goals, and the second two were punted in by Bianca Ike.
Hannah Ayers secured a shutout performance as goalkeeper.
Rempel said that she and her fellow coach Ray Christensen instilled a mindset of high performance, regardless how big or small the game.
That way, when the stakes are high, the girls are accustomed to playing their top game.
"We try to treat every game as an important game. And we try to tell the girls that every game is important to us. We all approach every game at that same level. So we are always coming out with that — that it's our game," said Rempel.
"We try to keep the stress level on the girls the same every game so that when we do get to the final game, it's the same — it's our game, still."
For Rempel, watching the team persist in the face of difficulty has been a real highlight.
"They just keep battling. And they're such a strong team," she said.
She also noted that the soccer community is very close, with multiple generations of soccer players participating as players and later as coaches or mentors.
One example, she said, is Jocelyn Harry, who has come back to help show the younger players some skills on the field.
"They're coming into town on reading break, and they come out to our practices and just help mentor these girls. And they're all giving back. It's a community," Rempel said.
She added that some coaches in the league were players in the Squamish league back when they were kids.
"Youth soccer is always looking for new players, always looking for girls," Rempel said. "And it's a great community from being five all the way up to kindergarten and all the way up to Grade 12. And the more kids we can get playing soccer in Squamish, the better, whether they're boys or girls, or both. It's an amazing sport for kids. And it's an amazing community to join."
To find more information on upcoming games, check Squamish https://www.facebook.com/SquamishSoccer
