BURNABY — Mission completed for the Okanagan Mission Huskies.

Steeled by the extreme heartbreak a penalty-kick shootout can bring to its loser, Kelowna’s Huskies completed a stunning 28-0-0 season on Wednesday afternoon at the Burnaby Lake West fields, going to seven rounds of the shootout to emerge 2-1 (6-5) winners over Port Coquitlam’s Fraser Valley champion Archbishop Carney Stars.

The Huskies, who only launched its senior varsity boys soccer program in time for the 2011 season, came out on the short end of penalty kicks last November, dropping its Final Four showdown to Burnaby’s Cariboo Hill Chargers. OKM then defeated North Vancouver’s Windsor Dukes in a shootout to capture the bronze.

If you’re sensing a theme here, so was Huskies’ fleet central midfielder Andrew Stevenson, who had nodded home the first goal of the match in the 45th minute of play to put his team ahead 1-0.

“I guess we’re just a penalty-shootout team,” laughed a relieved Stevenson after the match. “It is just an amazing feeling to win. Last season, losing the way we did was awful. But then to come back the next year and win it the same we lost it, was incredible.”

Co-Golden Boot award winner (top striker) Dylan Wagner had fed Stevenson for the opening goal, which came five minutes into the second 40-minutes of regulation. However the Stars came on strong and were able to equalize in the 70th minute.

“I think the most important part of match was the 10 minutes after they scored, where we managed to hold on for extra time,” continued Stevenson.

Bryan Cadman took a cross from Mike North and was able to show first-class finish to knot the contest.

“Hats off to them, they played a very sound defensive game,” said Carney coach Mate Zvicer. “We just couldn’t finish. It was the story of the day. That’s soccer. When we scored with 10 to go, our guys hit another gear and we took it to them.”

In the shootout, both team’s initial shots were saved.

Each team then managed to score through five straight rounds, OKM getting its goals from MacKenzie Rigg, keeper Mike Sexton, Alex Beutle, Matt Fielding and Ben McDonald.

Carney led off the seventh round and was unable to tally, setting the stage for senior Jesse Nanci to score the winning goal.

“It has been a fantastic week,” acknowledged winning coach Tony Overton, whose team like Carney, went into Wednesday’s final with four straight clean-sheet efforts.

“We have 20 in the squad, and they all played a part in winning the tournament. The level they have achieved, with their movement on and off the ball, has been fantastic. They played superbly.”

And it wasn’t like they didn’t get a push in the group stages.

Overton credited West Vancouver’s Sentinel Spartans for giving them their toughest match prior to the final.

“They were a very good team,” Overton said, “We just managed to win 1-0.”

Rigg, a midfield partner of Stevenson’s, was chosen the tournament MVP.

“After last year, the team had a lot more background about the B.C.’s,” said Rigg. “We had provincials as the end goal in sight. It’s one of the best teams I have ever played on because it all meant so much to everyone.”

Archbishop Carney was making its second finals appearance in four seasons, after losing to Sands of North Delta 1-0 in the 2009 final.

“I am proud of the effort that our guys put in all season,” said Zvicer of the Stars. “We’re going to have a solid group next year and we are setting the bar high again.”

News of the Huskies win quickly spread through the hallways of Okanagan Mission, with the title representing the school’s first provincial senior varsity banner since it won the co-ed Single A B.C. tennis title in 1991-92, a span of some 21 seasons.

“The commitment to excellence shown by these players has been outstanding,” said OKM vice-principal Mark Watson.

When the Huskies won the Okanagan Valley title 7-0 over Summerland, it opted for a low-key medal presentation inside a classroom, instead of at a school assembly.

The reason?

They felt they had one more goal left to accomplish. For OKM, Wednesday was all about the mission accomplished.

BURNABY — Coquitlam’s Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils and the Terry Fox Ravens of Port Coquitlam never failed to bring a sense of drama to each and every one of their three meetings this season on the high school soccer pitch, and Saturday’s crosstown derby clash in the B.C. senior boys Triple A championship final was no different.

Michael Mobilio’s counter-attack strike off a perfect feed from teammate Tyler Da Silva midway through the opening half stood as the winner as the Blue Devils beat the Ravens 1-0 at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex, bringing the school its third B.C. title in the past four seasons.

From its Oct. 16 Fraser Valley North league clash, a 2-2 draw in which the teams took turns scoring three times in the final eight minutes of play, including Best’s tying goal with seconds remaining, to Terry Fox’s 3-1 win in the Fraser Valley championship semifinals, the two sides had waged a friendly rivalry that seemed to promise even bigger games to come.

The Valley’s North Division, in fact, was so tight that the Ravens went into their zone tournament seeded No. 14 out of 16 teams based on goal differential after both they and two other teams finished tied for second place behind Best with 4-2-1 records.

“We’re disappointed with the loss, we were kind of hoping for a different kind of result,” said Terry Fox head coach John Murphy. “But if there is a team you have to lose to, it’s better that they came from our league.”

Geographic proximity just heightened the battle on Saturday, especially with so many of the players from both teams having recently teamed up for the Coquitlam Metro Ford Barca ’96 side which last weekend won the B.C. Soccer Premier League’s League Cup final, after going undefeated in both its long and mini-season campaigns.

Barca members Trevor Hallam, Da Silva and tourney MVP Kyle Jones all played for Best, while Ross Merton, James Lynn and Luke Griffin played for the Ravens.

“We were able to create a lot of chances but we weren’t able to bury them,” said David Jones, who co-coaches the Best side with Giovanni Valente. “But Michael made a nice diagonal run through the middle and Tyler slotted the ball to him perfectly.”

The Blue Devils, who beat Fraser Valley champion Tamanawis Wildcats of Surrey 2-1 in its Friday afternoon semifinal, were going through something of a transitional season with a number of seniors electing not to suit up with the squad, placing more responsibility on the team’s core of Grade 11s step up and help carry the side.

That was indeed the case. The attacking partnership of Da Silva and Mobilio returns next season. But Jones was most impressed by leadership that came from his senior players, including captain and centre midfielder Giovanni Carida, and others like defenders Tanner Roughead and Lenny Acosta-Lopez, and striker Jordan Magnuson.

“It was great to see the job (Carida) did with the younger players,” remarked Jones. “He’d do pre-game chats with the guys, and he just helped keep everyone calm.”

Murphy gave kudos to his keeper, Bryce Rickaby, who made a number of outstanding saves in a game in which the Blue Devils had the majority of quality scoring opportunities.

Terry Fox went to penalty kicks in its semifinal to down Burnaby South 3-2. Tamanawis beat Burnaby South in the third-place match on Saturday.

Nanaimo-Dover Bay’s Keegan Lang won the tourney’s Golden Boot Award as the top scorer, notching nine goals over the tournament, while Best’s Nazzareno Russo was picked the top goalkeeper.

Making up the all-tournament team: Matthew Shannik (Burnaby South), Derek Scott (Correlieu), Keegan Lang (Dover Bay), Tanner Roughead (Dr. Charles Best), Zora Sandhu (Surrey-Enver Creek), Danny Yeates (North Vancouver-Handsworth), Shaun Pilcher (Port Moody-Heritage Woods), Joel Burma (Kelowna), Sam White (Vancouver-Kitsilano), Tom Seversen (Vancouver-Lord Byng), Brody Kappler (Cranbrook-Mt. Baker), Scott Jones (Victoria-Oak Bay), Jordan Van Dremmelin (Sardis), Adam Hoo (Terry Fox), Daniel Curalli (Vancouver College), Pratap Sandhu (Tamanawis).

(THIS IS ONE STORY IN OUR ANNUAL ‘FOUR WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE’, HONOURING THOSE WHO MAKE THE B.C. HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY SO SPECIAL)

SURREY — In a purely anatomical sense, you could say that Taylor Williamson lacks the requisite muscle to lead a life as purposefully driven as the one the Grade 11 student carries through the doors each day at Surrey Christian School.

Thankfully, a series of childhood surgeries never touched the most important muscle of all, because whether she’s majoring in volunteerism at her school, or thriving as a three-sport athlete for the Falcons’ volleyball, basketball and soccer teams, she always leads with her heart.

“When I was born, my feet were turned in like hockey sticks,” explains Williamson, who was born with club feet. “They gave me a choice around the age of 10 to make my feet totally straight, normal, so I wouldn’t be pigeon-toed. But then I wouldn’t be able to play sports anymore. I chose to keep playing sports.”

Still, in her most formative years, she endured six surgeries, had pins inserted in her ankles, and was forced to wear heavy braces. The net result? Williamson lost half of the muscle mass in each of her calves, and both of her ankles are locked.

Yet through it all, she never shied away from sports, developing an early love for soccer, and later becoming proficient on the court as both a volleyball setter and a point guard in basketball.

“As far as an athlete goes, she is the kind of kid that totally understands what being on a team means,” says senior girls volleyball coach Lisa Verveda. “If she is not playing she knows that her role is to support others. And if she is playing, she plays her hardest all the time. She just works so hard at everything. It’s who she is.”

And the heart she shows wearing her school’s Falcons blue is also evident in level of gusto she brings to the other side of her life, that of service to her school and the greater community in which she lives.

The project demanding the greatest share of her attention this past week as classes prepared to break for the holidays was Surrey Christian’s Giving Tree, a nine-foot mural occupying a wall near one of the school’s stairwells.

Williamson helped put the call out to her own student body for donations, and with each gift, a hand print was affixed to the mural. She was hopeful that the entire tree would be full by the close of school Friday. Students were given a number of donation options: Non-perishables for the Surrey Food Bank, jeans and sweaters for the NightShift Street Ministries, even gifts like time or random acts of kindness.

“To be honest, when I see an opportunity to make someone else’s day, that has just always given me a way more of a joyful feeling than doing something for myself,” explains Williamson, who also helps arrange game crews for all of the school’s athletic events, even the ones in which she is involved as a player.

She spends so much time at the school, in fact, that Williamson calls it her second home.

And although basketball and soccer are her primary sports, Verveda says she loved the spirit Williamson brought to her volleyball team, which advanced to the B.C. Double A semifinals and wound up finishing fourth in the province.

“I loved her being on the team because she brought so much more to the table than just her skills,” Verveda said.

That much is evident on the basketball court, and on the soccer pitch, the latter of which she hit the ground running at age seven, in the midst of all of those early childhood surgeries. These days, she is a team leader at centre back for her Falcons, and despite not turning 17 until March, she is already playing on the Sur-Del senior women’s club team.

“I still have to visit Children’s Hospital every two years,” Williamson explains. “And there are some things that I can’t do as well because of my half calves. I don’t have some mobility in my movement of my feet and ankles, because they are totally locked. But other than that.”

Details. Details.

So then just one more question.

How, despite a distinct lack of leg muscles, and two locked ankles, did she manage triple-jump bronze in her age group two seasons ago at the Surrey high school track and field championships?

“We’ve all kind of wondered about that one,” she laughs. “I have a little bit of speed in me, though. It helps.”

So does a huge heart.

A sampling from Monday’s player and coach reaction to Jay DeMerit’s potentially season-ending Achilles tear:

Centre back Andy O’Brien

“It’s a loss. It goes without saying. He’s a big personality. He’s a good player. He does what a captain does. But I think we all play our part, even the younger guys. There’s a good mix within the dressing room. Without a shadow of a doubt Jay will be missed both on the pitch and off it. We wish him a quick recovery.

“Knowing his character and personality and the support he’s got around the team, hopefully he’ll be back asap.”

Fullback Alain Rochat

“I hope we’re going to be solid enough. I think Brad [Rusin] came very well into the game. We have to be focussed on who is on the pitch. That’s very unfortunate for Jay and for us, but let’s give some confidence to other players.”

Centre back Brad Rusin

“It’s an opportunity for me, an opportunity for other guys. I wish him a fast recovery but we’ve got guys who can step in. I’m pretty confident in myself and other guys.”

Midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker

“That’s football. One thing you learn from a very young age, it changes very quickly. We just wish him the best and hope he has a speedy recovery.

Coach Martin Rennie

“I’m just really disappointed about that. Obviously it was nice to win on Saturday but I knew pretty much right away that was a big blow. I just hope that he gets better soon. He’s such an important player for the club and such a good person to have in your team.

“That wasn’t a likely risk because he’d trained all week. And even last season his Achilles was sore at times. It was just one of those things. I just feel for him and hope he’ll be better soon.

“There’s lots of example of guys who have [come back from a ruptured Achilles], David Beckham being one. The thing with Jay is, Jay’s a little bit of a freak athlete. He’s one of those guys who always tests really well, always recovers really well, and if he does the right things in the rehab then I have no doubt at all he’ll come back.

“I think actually from a team perspective, Jay’s obviously an important person and player for our team, but I actually think we can cover in that sense. It’s more just the disappointment for him. To happen in the first few minutes of the season. But we do have people who can play in [that] position and we do have good leadership on our team, so we’ll be able to go forward strong.

“Obviously it’s a blow but I don’t think it’s something we need to use as an excuse.

Jay DeMerit

Surgery time. #keepsmiling @ashleighmcivor's here to take care of me yfrog.com/oeat2qxsj—
Jay DeMerit (@D6MERIT) March 04, 2013

NORTH VANCOUVER — After a season spent feeling the pain of not winning the title, the Argyle Pipers got that victorious feeling back again.
Senior Jessie Blanchard’s 35-yard strike to the top corner in the 37th minute carried the day for the Pipers, lifting the North Vancouver school to a 1-0 win over Victoria’s Oak Bay Breakers in the deciding match of the 2013 B.C. senior girls Triple A soccer championships Saturday afternoon on its hometown pitch at Inter River Parks.
“At the end of the day, the best things that come in your life are the things that you have to work the hardest for,” explained euphoric Pipers head coach Darren Rath. “Our girls knew they had to work harder than everyone else and they were not going to be denied.”
The win, which capped an undefeated season in league and post-season play, put the Pipers back on top for the second time in the last three seasons. In 2012, Argyle drew 0-0 in pool round play with Surrey’s soon-to-be champion Panorama Ridge Thunder, and that draw prevented them from moving forward into the semifinal round.
This season, the Pipers managed to find their way to Friday’s semifinal, a 1-0 win over Coquitlam’s Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils, despite the fact that they drew 0-0 in pool play with the South Delta Sun Devils.
It was, as Rath explained, a team that found a way to get the little things done.
On Friday, Liana Glass fired home the winner that pushed them forward into the championship round. And in Saturday’s title tilt, it was keeper Austin Studer, later named tourney MVP, who made a game-changing save off a three-on-none breakaway with the match still scoreless.
“If they had scored and we had fallen behind 1-0, it would have changed the entire dynamic of the game,” said Rath, whose school has now won 10 B.C. Triple A titles in girls Triple A soccer.
Basketball standout Sophie Swant won the Golden Boot Award as the tournament’s top scorer, an honour she shared with Nina LaFlamme of Victoria-Stelly’s.
And Rath the praised the play of the entire team, including the likes of Alexandra Fiorvento, Mikaela Kautzky and Danielle Yalouz.
Vancouver’s Kitsilano Blue Demons claimed third with a 1-0 overtime victory over Charles Best. Friday’s other semifinal saw Oak Bay beat Kits 2-0.

EMMA FLETCHER
SOCCER
SCHOOL: Semiahmoo (Surrey)
FRESHMAN’S FUTURE: Louisiana State

SUMMER CLARKE
SOCCER
SCHOOL: R.C. Palmer (Richmond)
FRESHMAN’S FUTURE: Louisiana State

The request was a simple one for Emma Fletcher and Summer Clarke, as the pair of soccer standouts arrived for their Head of the Class photo shoot.

Just have fun and show your passion for the game.

As you can easily see, none of that was a stretch for two of the shining stars with the Whitecaps FC elite squad.
Clarke, a dynamic striker from R.C. Palmer in Richmond, and Fletcher, a game-changing, attacking midfielder from Victoria who is finishing her high school career at Semiahmoo in Surrey, are a one-two punch that is part of the next wave of stars in Canadian women’s soccer.

Summer Clarke (left) of Richmond’s R.C. Palmer Secondary, and Emma Fletcher of Surrey’s Semiahmoo Secondary. (Richard Lam, PNG photo)

They’re also both headed to the same NCAA Div. 1 campus next season, ready to get a taste of Cajun cooking as they move to Baton Rouge suit up for the Louisiana State University Tigers.

They have, in fact, already seen their living quarters and were happy to discover they will be roommates.

“We saw the flat,” explained Fletcher, whose Kiwi roots allowed her to play for New Zealand at the FIFA U17 World Cup this past fall in Azerbaijan. “It’s four bedrooms so we’ll have two other roommates.”

One of them is Rebecca Pongetti, a Hamilton, Ont., native, so due north of New Orleans’ famous French Quarter, a Canadian quarter is taking shape in the state capital.

Could the Tigers have much better than secure this talented duo?

Clarke, the sister of Whitecaps FC player Caleb Clarke, is noted as one of the top scorers in the world at the U17 level. She also played at the FIFA U17 World Cup, leading Canada to the quarterfinals.

Fletcher, who recently attended a Canadian U20 EXCELeration camp in West Virginia, moved to the Lower Mainland to start Grade 11, so she could be closer to her training opportunities in the Greater Vancouver area.

The pair committed to LSU in December of 2011, a process Fletcher did her best to expedite.

“I texted her ‘Summer are you going to commit to LSU?’ and ‘If you will, I will, right now,’” Fletcher laughs. “So I did and then she did.”

“Our coach told us it was a great Christmas present,” adds Clarke.  “I have known Emma since U13, so since Grade 7, so we go back a long ways.”

BURNABY — Over a season in which they thrived on fighting chances, Saint Thomas Aquinas’ aptly-named Fighting Saints won their ultimate battle Wednesday, completing a true rags-to-riches run to top the field at the B.C. senior boys Double A soccer championships.

Winning its sixth sudden-elimination game since the start of the post season, North Vancouver’s Fighting Saints went to penalty kicks to dethrone the defending B.C. champion Okanagan Mission Huskies of Kelowna 1-0 (4-3) at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.

“We came from fourth place in our own league and we made this journey and it’s been a Cinderella story for all of us, it’s so crazy,” said Daniel Morello, who scored one of the team’s four penalty-kick markers in the final as the Fighting Saints won their first boys soccer title since claiming the B.C. Single A crown back in 2002. “We were pretty nervous before the shoot-out, but we have been underdogs since the beginning, and we always tell each other before every game, miss or not, that we are all proud of each other.”

If that sounds like STA is used to the highs and lows associated with the game’s cruelest arbiter, you’re right.
Last season, they lost to Cariboo Hill on kicks and were denied a berth to provincials, watching as the Chargers went on to claim third place.

This season, it took sudden-death wins over Windsor and then Collingwood in zone playoffs to get another sudden-elimination shot at Cariboo Hill. This time, they won on a shootout, getting the deciding goal from Ricardo Dupouy.

That flair for the dramatic continued at the provincials.

St. Thomas Aquinas tied its first two matches, and although it won its third 2-0 over D.P. Todd of Prince George on Wednesday morning, it tied Aldergrove for top spot in the pool.

“They have this rule at provincials that if two teams are tied for first in pool play, that they find a net, pick five players and have a shoot-out,” said STA’s Loui Salituro, who co-coaches the team with Fernando Grossling. “And our guys have experience with shootouts.”

They also have keeper Sam Macdonald, who was brilliant throughout the tournament, and his clutch play helped STA past Gulf Islands 2-1 in a Tuesday semifinal.

In that contest, Camilo Trujillo with the opening goal, and Morello with the winner on a left-footed strike with five minutes remaining from 23 yards out, did the damage to send the Fighting Saints into the final.

No strangers to shootouts themselves, Okanagan Mission had lost on kicks in the 2011 semifinals before settling for bronze, and won the B.C. title over PoCo’s Archbishop Carney Stars last season on kicks. On Tuesday, it again beat the Stars on kicks.

“Our guys are gutted,” admitted OKM head coach Tony Overton, whose team has a medal count of bronze, silver and gold despite having not lost a regulation game in three seasons, fueled by a core of three-year standouts which included Dan Perry, Joe Overton, Ben McDonald, Walker Shanks, Matt Fielding and Dylan Wagner. “It’s a cruel way to go out, to lose a championship. But at the end of the day, no one has yet found a better way to decide a game between two extremely competitive teams.”

Wednesday’s title-tilt shootout, which the Huskies led off, was tied at 2-2. However its third shot went wide, and its fourth was saved by Macdonald.

With Stefan Thomas, Morello and Ethan Goh having already scored for STA, Dupouy bagged the walk-off winner.
“This is one of the greatest memories of my life,” said Morello, “to win this, with these guys who are like family. We’re all so close, and every day we see each other at school. So to have this as a memory is crazy.”

TRIPLE A SOCCER
Coquitlam’s Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils are set to defend their status as reigning champions as the B.C. senior boys Triple A soccer championships open a three-day run Thursday morning at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.
The Blue Devils, 1-0 winners in last season’s final over crosstown rival Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, open defence of their title with pool play games Thursday against Vancouver’s Eric Hamber Griffins (9 a.m.) and Surrey’s Elgin Park Orcas (12:45 p.m.).

Pool play will continue through Friday morning, with semifinals slated for that afternoon at 12:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Saturday’s championship finals begins at 11:45 a.m.

BURNABY — By all reports, the lettermen jackets from the mid-1980s and the cast of mid-40s men that wore them while populating the sidelines Saturday morning for the B.C. senior boys Triple A soccer championship final, still fit fine.

But hey, 27 years is still 27 years.

And when Dezenan Bezdrob scored the game winner with under 30 seconds remaining in the second overtime period at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex, lifting North Vancouver’s Sutherland Sabres to a 2-1 win over the Burnaby Central Wildcats and giving the school its first boys senior varsity soccer title since 1986, pandemonium ensued.

“A lot of those guys were there, and that was pretty cool to see,” enthused Sabres’ head coach Bill Mahon, himself a former Sutherland student. “Those guys are all like 44, 45-years-old now. They have had kids come through the school and play soccer. It was pretty cool to get such great support from the alumni.”

A full generation later, soccer may indeed be coming back into fashion at one of the North Shore’s smallest secondary schools.

The Sabres last tasted provincial glory in the mid-1980s, winning B.C. titles in both 1984 and ’86, at a time when tiers had not yet been introduced.

This season, Mahon knew what a talented group he had on his hands, even though 12 of the 15 players were still in Grade 11. So he elected not to play at the Double A tier, instead electing to play with the larger schools at Triple A.

“The toughest part most years is just getting out of your zone,” said Mahon, who this season saw his team win the North Shore league title for the first time since 1997.

The Sabres earned an automatic berth to the provincials earlier this month with a 2-1 win over Burnaby-New West champion Burnaby Central, got the No. 1 seed heading into the provincial tournament, which began Thursday, then proceeded to beat Oak Bay of Victoria 6-0 in its Friday semifinal.

In its rematch against Burnaby Central in Saturday’s final, centre midfielder Travis Ladhar opened the scoring, capping a Sabres’ counter attack with a low shot past keeper Trevor Hughes in the 25th minute.

Within a minute, however, Central’s Parker Ellis, later selected the tournament MVP, equalized when he beat Michael Girard, later picked top keeper. Both teams had their chances from that point forward, but it appeared to both teams that the 15 minutes of overtime wasn’t going to settle anything.

“I was literally bending down on one knee to figure out who was going to shoot penalty kicks when we scored the winner,” laughed Mahon, who estimated that about 30 seconds remained before a potential shoot-out.

A free kick from about 45 yards out, was launched into the box, where Adam Swanson was able to get a head on it. The ball somehow wound up on Bezdrob’s chest and with no one between him and the net, he slotted home the golden goal.

“We still had a very strong year,” said Anto Steko, who co-coached the Wildcats this season with Ibrahim Adamu. “We only had two losses the whole way, and both of them were to Sutherland.”

Only 24 hours left until we plunge headlong into the football cornucopia that is the European Championship. It’s has European football fans salivating with the anticipation of an entire month o unbridled viewing avarice.

After arriving in Amsterdam yesterday on an Air Transat flight that compared favourably to a goat filled, Nepalese bus ride, I enjoyed a quick smoke and a pancake and headed east to Warsaw. 36 hours of straight travel was worth it to make the opening day kickoff.

I arrived at the Warsaw train station this afternoon, exhausted and thirsty. I bought, what I thought was a bottle of water from a vending machine and instead, received an energy drink called ‘BIEGAC, SWEAT!’. I figure, as long as ‘BIEGAC’ isn’t Polish for ‘golden retriever’, I’ll be okay.

I texted my uncle with that unfortunate happenstance and he replied “Bad news Nolan, not only is ‘BIEGAC’ Polish for ‘golden retriever’, but ‘SWEAT’ is Polish for urine.

Ugh.

Soccer nationalists are pouring in to the Polish capital. The main train station looks like an ill-thought out merger between the UN and a Carlsberg factory. And word is that 40,000 Irish are descending upon Poznan, for what will probably be a pretty…pretty good time. This is Poland’s international coming out party and I can’t imagine the damage 40,000 Irish are going to do to her. It’s like your daughter going out on a first date with a gang of Hells Angels.

Got to find the ‘ASA Hotel’. In future, when asking for directions to the ‘ASA Hotel’, I’ll make sure to separate the words with a one second pause. Not doing so can cause a moment of bug-eyed anger among partial English speakers.

After that, time to check out the massive fan zone in Warsaw, which allegedly holds 100,000 people; but I must admit, a part of me wishes I was at the Abruzzo Cafe on Commercial Drive, which seats roughly 99,927 less. Short of being in Europe, it may be the greatest place on earth to watch the Euro and World Cups.

The faces of contented Italian men, who pass their days conversing and playing cards, will not be seen at Abruzzo for the month of June. Instead, they will be pushed out by the tumult and the shouting of hundreds of youthful soccer fans. The unseemly sight of nomadic, roaming gangs of Italian geriatrics, a necessary evil, as our multi-generational heritage is maintained and kept alive by these once every two years world soccer tournaments. If you’re around on June 10th, a Spain vs. Italy match, coupled with Italian Days on The Drive, would be hard to pass up.

Tomorrow night (morning in Vancouver) Poland vs. Greece kicks things off. Bet the under (unless the under is zero). Everyone I’ve talked to here in Poland is extremely optimistic. The heroes of the home side are Robert Lewandowski, a striker from Borussia Dortmund, and Arsenal’s starting keeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Greece will rely heavily on their usual, stultifying team defence.

Both countries have a lot of weight on their shoulders, Poland’s side, as the host nation, and Greece’s as a focal point to provide momentary respite from the countries financial troubles. It’s hard to cheer against either one.

Christmas Eve for football fans is finally here.

BURNABY — Jacqui Ferraby didn’t really know what was going on when she received a call from The Province in the spring of 2000, inviting her to a photo shoot aimed at honouring the top high school student-athletes in B.C.

“I just remember it as being a very neat experience, getting to meet all of these other athletes,” she explained. “It really made you feel as if you were a part of something special.”

We called that project Head of the Class, and over the years, it has grown — both in size and scope — into our annual, season-ending tribute to those we proudly call our best and brightest.

On June 16, HOC will not only celebrate its 15th birthday, but also the realization that its been a full decade-and-a-half since our charter class of honourees traded the security of the classrooms, gyms and hallways of their high schools for their first steps into the world of adulthood.

It’s a span of time which has carried the Class of 2000 into their early 30s, and for Ferraby, our very first HOC soccer girl, it’s a span best described as coming full circle.

From a 17-year-old soccer star who helped North Vancouver’s Argyle Pipers to three straight B.C. girls Triple A soccer titles, to a CIS national championship career with the UBC Thunderbirds, and now, to her current posting as a teacher and soccer coach at Burnaby Central Secondary, the 32-year-old Ferraby is dedicated to creating the same kinds of experiences through sport that she received as a teen.

“What I loved about high school soccer was that it brought together students of all ages,” reflects Ferraby, who serves as an assistant at Central under head coach Perry Kim. “You don’t get that cross-grade interaction in the hallways, but it was always fun to play together on a team. I really want the vibe of a team where we encourage and support each other, and have fun. This is something that should be memorable, and when they are finished I want them to look back on it as something they really enjoyed.”

And this season’s Burnaby Central team, sitting at No. 2 in the first set of provincial Triple A rankings (FULL RANKINGS BELOW), has the potential to experience some pretty memorable moments.

With sisters Reesa (mid-fwd) and Morgan Wright (keeper) helping lead the way, the Wildcats, coming off a 4-1 win Tuesday at Byrne Creek, have opened Burnaby-New Westminster league play with a perfect 5-0 record.

What’s most important to Ferraby, however, is being able to make a difference, both as a teacher in the classroom and on the soccer pitch.

In the past, she has helped the Vancouver Street Soccer League, a non-profit whose aim is to use the game to empower the homeless and the addicted, and give direction to at-risk youth. Next month she begins work on a masters in special education with a focus on learning disabilities.

We never fully knew what Head of the Class would ultimately come to represent when we launched it 15 years ago. We’re happy to say we do now.

SOCCER

GIRLS

TRIPLE A

TOP 10

1. Stelly’s Stingers (Saanichton)

2. Burnaby Central Wildcats

3. McMath Wildcats (Richmond)

4. South Delta Sun Devils (Tsawwassen)

5. Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils (Coquitlam)

6. Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam)

7. New Westminster Hacks

8. West Vancouver Highlanders

9. Fleetwood Park Dragons (Surrey)

10. Point Grey Greyhounds (Vancouver)

Honourable mention — Panorama Ridge Thunder (Surrey), Tamanawis Wildcats (Surrey), Sentinel Spartans (West Vancouver), Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver), Sardis Falcons (Chilliwack), Clayton Heights Nightriders (Surrey), Belmont Bulldogs (Victoria), Oak Bay Breakers (Victoria)

SOCCER

GIRLS

TRIPLE A

TOP 10

1. McMath Wildcats (Richmond) (LW-3)

2. South Delta Sun Devils (Tsawwassen) (4)

3. Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils (Coquitlam) (5)

4. Point Grey Greyhounds (Vancouver) (10)

5. Belmont Bulldogs (Victoria) (HM)

6. West Vancouver Highlanders (8)

7. Fleetwood Park Dragons (Surrey) (9)

8. Stelly’s Stingers (Saanichton) (1)

9. Clayton Heights Nightriders (Surrey) (HM)

10. Burnaby Central Wildcats (2)

Honourable mention — Panorama Ridge Thunder (Surrey),  Sentinel Spartans (West Vancouver), Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver), Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam) (6), Sardis Falcons (Chilliwack), Reynolds Roadrunners (Saanich) (NR), Kelowna Owls (NR)

TSAWWASSEN — Stephen Burns has never been of two minds when it comes to the question of how to build a winning soccer program at the high school level.

Both his boys and girls teams at Tsawwassen’s South Delta Secondary are proof of the single-minded purpose that can be harnessed by a disparate collection of players of varying skill levels and community affiliations, once they are sold on the idea that high school soccer can be a place where traditions are built.

But in a manner of speaking, the 45-year-old, ex-Vancouver 86er has had to split his mind into distinct left and right halves this season as he’s embarked on a coaching journey which has been equal parts daunting, bizarre and even comical.

For the past few months, Burns has not only been coaching the girls team at South Delta, where over the past 18 seasons he’s built the Sun Devils into a model of consistency, but also, where the tradition isn’t nearly as strong, the girls team at Richmond’s R.A. McMath Secondary, where his Grade 10 daughter Ali is one of the Wildcats’ keepers.

“Trying to commute through the tunnel can be a disaster some days,” Burns laughs, “but the Fraser Valley plays its games Mondays and Wednesdays, and the Vancouver-Richmond league plays Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

OK, so while certainly not the norm, nothing too out of the realm of possibility.

But what if we gave this story some real wheels, a ton of traction and a pair of compasses, each pointed true north?

And what if we told you that combined, the two teams boasted an undefeated 27-0-1 record?

With each passing game, that is precisely what has transpired, to the point where the comical part of plot line has now reared itself as reality.

Take Thursday for example.

At 3 p.m., on its home park at Winskill, South Delta (14-0-1) hosts Coquitlam’s Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils in the Fraser Valley Triple A championship match. A half-hour later in Vancouver, at Jericho Park, McMath (13-0-1) meets the Kitsilano Blue Devils in the Vancouver-Richmond Triple A championship final.

In this instance, Burns has chosen to coach McMath because it needs to beat Kitsilano to earn a berth to the B.C. tournament, set to run May 29-31. Burns’ longtime coaching partner at South Delta, assistant Brent Sweeney will coach the Sun Devils, who have already qualified for the provincials.

But that’s just the start of the intrigue.

In the most current B.C. Triple A rankings, McMath is ranked No. 1 and South Delta No. 2 (FULL PROVINCIAL RANKINGS BELOW). Without getting too technical, that means if each school were to win their respective zone championship games on Thursday, they would likely be placed on opposite sides of the B.C. tournament draw as the event’s top two seeds.

Games are never played on paper and McMath isn’t even in the B.C. tournament field yet. Burns understands this. But just for fun, what if both teams did happen to make it to the provincials?

Hmmm. You know what the next question has to be.

If they played each other, who would he coach?

“I would just be sitting in the stands enjoying the game,” Burns says without a moment of hesitation. “I wouldn’t coach either team because I couldn’t pick one over the other. Think about the ramifications? My daughter wouldn’t speak to me if I coached South Delta, and South Delta would say I deserted them after 18 years. It would be a real easy decision. But I think the only way that could possibly happen would be if they met in the final. But I haven’t thought about it much because the chances are slim.”

Quite comically, Burns almost said “if we met in the final.” If only science worked as hard as he.

To that end, Burns has expended a lot of energy this season attempting to bring the South Delta model to McMath, and it starts with school tradition.

South Delta will be making a record-setting 13th straight trip to the provincial tournament, and along the way, has developed the post-season tradition of huddling of its players in the pre- and post-game to sing You’ll Never Walk Alone, the adopted anthem of Burns’ favourite soccer club, Celtic F.C.

Earlier this season, at a McMath game, two Grade 12 members of the Wildcats’ boys team — Kourino Hazebrouck and Theo Lorenz — who have helped coached the girls in Burns’ absence, were blaring a techno ditty by Dutch DJ Martin Garrix entitled Proxy.

“I asked them what it was, and then I told them that it was going to be our anthem,” laughs Burns. “There’s no singing in it, so its not my traditional kind of music. But now we play it together before and after games.”

There is a ton of soccer left to be played, and Burns’ attention will be loyally divided from the sidelines. But maybe it’s fitting that in a weird and wonderful season, the best finish he can imagine includes him as a spectator.

GIRLS

TRIPLE A

TOP 10

1. McMath Wildcats (Richmond) (LW-1)

2. South Delta Sun Devils (Tsawwassen) (2)

3. Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils (Coquitlam) (3)

4. Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver) (HM)

5. Kitsilano Blue Demons (Vancouver) (NR)

6. Burnaby North Vikings (NR)

7. Oak Bay Breakers (Victoria) (NR)

8. Belmont Bulldogs (Victoria) (5)

9. Fleetwood Park Dragons (Surrey) (7)

10. Kelowna Owls (HM)

Honourable mention — Heritage Woods Kodiaks (Port Moody) (NR), Point Grey Greyhounds (Vancouver) (4), Centennial Centaurs (Coquitlam) (NR), Panorama Ridge Thunder (Surrey) (HM)

Dropped out — West Vancouver Highlanders (6), Stelly’s Stingers (Saanichton) (8), Clayton Heights Nightriders (Surrey) (9), Burnaby Central Wildcats (10), Sentinel Spartans (West Vancouver) (HM), Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam) (HM), Sardis Falcons (Chilliwack) (HM), Reynolds Roadrunners (Saanich) (HM)

VANCOUVER — Richmond’s top-ranked McMath Wildcats and the No. 2 South Delta Sun Devils from Tsawwassen are sitting on opposite sides of the draw as the B.C. Triple A girls soccer championships kick off Thursday morning at three Vancouver-area high schools.

Yet if the two sides are on a pre-destined course collision course for Saturday’s 12 noon title tilt at Vancouver Technical Secondary, they are going to have to traverse the rest of the 16-team field’s top teams along the way, including the No 3-ranked, defending champion Argyle Pipers of North Vancouver, and last season’s runners-up, Victoria’s Oak Bay Breakers.

The Pipers are ranked No. 3 and sitting on the same side of the draw as McMath, while the Breakers are sitting at No. 5 and on the same side of the draw as South Delta.

No. 5 Dr. Charles Best of Coquitlam, No. 6 Kelowna, No. 7 Fleetwood Park of Surrey and No. 8 Burnaby North make up the rest of the top eight at the event, with Belmont of Victoria ranked No. 9 and Kitsilano of Vancouver rounding out the top 10.

Pool play competition features games at 9 and 11 a.m., and 1 and 3 p.m. Thursday and continues 9 and 11 a.m. games Friday.

Van Tech will be the site of semifinal games Friday (1 and 3 p.m.), in addition to Saturday’s final. Playing fields at Windermere and Gladstone are also in use.

In a curious twist, both McMath and South Delta share a head coach. Stephen Burns, who has guided the respective teams to both Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley titles this season, has said he will sit in the stands and watch should those two teams meet each other in any of the tournament’s eight placing games on Saturday.

Ask Sunny Uppal about the fire-breathing part of his players’ persona, and the head coach the Fleetwood Park Dragons senior girls soccer team is apt to make a clenched fist and pound it gently across the left side of his chest.

“We have Dragons on our jerseys, and we have dragons in our hearts,” Uppal said Sunday, a day after his team made an unbeaten run through the field to claim the B.C. senior girls Triple A soccer championship title in Vancouver.

“We have a family mentality and I always share that with the girls, that they are a huge part of my life, and that we play for each other.”

That family-first mantra not only powered the Dragons to a 19-0-1 season capped by the program’s first-ever B.C. girls soccer title, but following its 3-0 win in the title tilt over the previously-undefeated South Delta Sun Devils, gave the school’s first ever B.C. senior girls varsity title in any sport since opening its doors in 1994.

And it was that sense of family which brought both Gurveen Clair and Rachel Urquhart, members of the Dragons’ 2010 Final Four team, back to the fore this season as part of an assistant coaching staff that also included Harjot Ghuman.

Natalie Morin fired a first-half goal which proved to be the winner, and Lorissa Houle added two in the second half after the Sun Devils were forced to play with 10 players following the ejection of their starting keeper.

But even with an extra player for the final 25 minutes, the Fleetwood defence never let up.

In fact with Jordyn Doi and Emma Parno forming a solid partnership on the back line, and both Gabbi Musico and Caitlynn Mackenzie splitting the goaltending chores in every game this season, including the provincials, the Dragons finished their magnificent run through the B.C.’s without surrendering a goal.

“It was a very difficult game and a we things happened that we thought were unfortunate,” said South Delta head coach Stephen Burns. “But Fleetwood was a well-organized team that was very hard to break down. They were so tough in the back line and deserving.”

And Saturday’s victory may just be the start of more to titles to come for the Dragons.

Even after senior co-captain Harman Billen was lost to the team following an injury suffered in the semifinals on Friday, it never lost its punch in the middle of the park as 10th-grader Jessica Galbraith and Grade 9 Ashley Burgess, the latter named the tournament MVP, stepped up their respective games against the Sun Devils.

The school’s only other senior varsity title came in 2009 when the Dragons won the B.C. senior boys Triple A volleyball championship.

*At Penticton, Danielle Ruocco scored all of her team’s goals as the host Princess Margaret Mustangs completed a dream season, topping Victoria’s top-seeded Lambrick Park Pride 3-2 on Saturday to claim the B.C. girls Double A title.

PARKER ELLIS, KYLE SOHI

SOCCER

SCHOOLS: Burnaby Central (Ellis), North Delta (Sohi)

FRESHMEN’S FUTURE: Simon Fraser (Ellis), UBC (Sohi)

BURNABY — When it came time to picking their respective post-secondary destinations, Parker Ellis and Kyle Sohi weren’t concerned about helping to fuel the best rivalry currently being contested in the world of B.C. university sports.

Yet their decisions to don the respective colours of the Simon Fraser Clan and the UBC Thunderbirds at a time when each are playing to the zenith of their powers has done nothing but make a great rivalry even better.

“We’ve played against each other in metro and we were on the B.C. team together last year at the Canada Summer Games,” says the SFU-bound Ellis, who after leading Burnaby Central to a berth in the B.C. high school Triple A final, joins a Clan program which has made the Final Four at the NCAA Div. 2 national championships two years running.

“We’ve know each other five or six years,” adds North Delta’s Sohi, who joins a UBC Thunderbirds team which has won the last two CIS national championship titles. “We’re friends.”

Until, of course, the head-to-head matches begin.

What is certain is that UBC head coach Mike Mosher and Simon Fraser head coach Alan Koch each love the potential of their new star recruits.

“Parker is an incredibly dynamic player,” said Koch of the Golden Boot award winner for top scorer at the high school provincials. “He is excellent in one-v-one situations, and I think he is really going to suit our fluid, attacking game.”

Adds Mosher of Sohi: “His vision to see passes and then execute them is a special ability that I haven’t seen a lot at this level. I do think Kyle can come in and make an impact as a freshman and that is not easy to do with the team that we have. Plus, his transcript (in the 98 per cent range) is one of the best I have ever seen here at UBC.”

You get the idea. Special players for a special rivalry.

Resplendent in their grad gowns and kicking up heels in their footwear of choice, it’s fitting that we captured six of B.C.’s very best Grade 12 girls soccer players as they crested a plateau on their way to university careers all over North America.

Beginning this fall, Nikki Turney, Kelsey Smith, Seina Kashima, Sessen Stevens, Alessia Azermadhi and Chelsea Harkins will begin a new chapter and a new challenge, excelling at the next level in their new careers as collegiate student athletes.

South Delta’s Alessia Azermadhi (PNG photo)

ALESSIA AZERMADHI

SCHOOL: South Delta

FRESHMAN’S FUTURE: Princeton 

1. Who has been the biggest guiding influence in your soccer career and why?

Throughout my soccer career, I have had an amazing group of people who have made it possible for me to play soccer at a level that I am proud of. One of these people is Jeff Derksen. I didn’t look at him as being another team manager doing his job, but a caring person who spent countless hours ensuring that I was an in environment where I could grow as a player and person. From the moment that I met this wonderful person, I came to admire his passion, commitment and the values that he was looking to instil within our team. To say that he has influenced me in my soccer career is an understatement; whether it be his constant encouragement, or the fact that he has always believed in me, I am proud to say that Jeff has impacted me in a way in which he will always have my utmost respect.

2. You are all such accomplished players, but please explain what it is that you love most about your sport?

It’s amazing to think that a sport that I started at the age of five only for pure enjoyment, has become such a prominent aspect in my life. My love for the game of soccer stems from the life-long relationships that I have created with my teammates. Whether it be the thrill of competing to win a championship, or the defeat in the final moments of the game, the feeling of togetherness within a team is a unique environment that I have been very fortunate to have been a part of throughout my soccer career. Having passion is an integral part of the game; but having reliable teammates who share a common goal help to fuel my passion.

3. What is the biggest hurdle you have had to overcome to become the player you are today?

The most difficult experience that I have had to overcome was leaving a team that I spent six years growing up with. To most, it may seem like a very minor event in the grand scheme of things, but for me, it was a moment where I overcame the challenge of change. Having been through an emotional roller coaster with an amazing group of girls and staff, it was difficult to make the transition over to a new team. Throughout this challenging but valuable experience, I realized that I had a unique relationship with each individual, and regardless of the team that I would be playing with, I would always have those special connections. I became more mature and was able to translate this maturity onto the pitch.

4. What fields of study are you entering, or would like to potentially major in at university and why?

I have always been very interested in practicing law, and majoring in economics would provide a strong foundation going into graduate school for law in the future. Pursuing economics during my four years in university would enhance my analytical ability as well as further strengthen my communication skills. As I am excited to develop these attributes which are important for law, I believe that studying economics will be an enjoyable experience!

Dr. Charles Best’s Kelsey Smith. (PNG photo)

KELSEY SMITH

SCHOOL: Dr. Charles Best (Coquitlam)

FRESHMAN’S FUTURE: Grand Canyon

1. Who has been the biggest guiding influence in your soccer career and why?

From when I was a baby until I was nine, I watched my sister, Carly, play for the Burnaby Jazz every weekend. I remember thinking that one day they would all be famous soccer players, and I got their autographs in case they would be worth something one day. Her team was very successful, and this inspired me to pursue the same dream of becoming a competitive and successful soccer player.

Both my Grandpa (Dan McArdle) and my Mom (Sue Smith) have been my biggest guiding influence in my soccer career. Both of them played soccer when they were young, my mom playing on the first girl’s team in Port Moody. When I was six they started coaching me, and this continued until I was twelve, when I moved from Port Coquitlam Football Club, to Coquitlam Metro Ford Soccer Association. Their support didn’t stop there; I only remember a hand full of times when my mom wasn’t on the sideline coaching or just cheering me on, practice or game. From under 13 up until under 17 my grandpa missed one game, but this was because he was already driving to California to watch me in a tournament the coming week. Both my Mom and my Grandpa have been a huge support whether on the field or the sideline.

I remember a couple times when my grandpa would burn me CD’s of videos of different soccer tricks and moves. After watching them, I would choose one or two, and practice them on him in his front yard, every time he would give me a tip to go quicker, look up, or use my other foot. Not only did he help me with these, but he would also bring me to the field and help me with my shot and penalty kicks.

I think the thing the most important things my grandpa taught me though were not technical, but to be the hardest working player on the field, to work as hard at training as during a game, be a good teammate, always be humble and to be a graceful winner as much as a graceful loser.

2. You are all such accomplished players, but please explain what it is that you love most about your sport?

For me, I love soccer because it is such a competitive game.  It is both a mentally and physically challenging sport that I could play for 50 years if I wanted to. Although I have had to make numerous sacrifices to get to the level I am at today, I have gained so much from the sport. Not only have I met some amazing teammates who will be lifelong friends, but I have also had the opportunity to travel to numerous places across North America. This sport has shown me how to be passionate about something you love and that if you really love it, you will sacrifice almost anything for it. This sport has taught me how to bring my competitiveness, work rate, and dedication to other places in my life, such as school.

3. What is the biggest hurdle you have had to overcome to become the player you are today

My biggest hurdle that I have had to overcome was tearing my ACL. I tore it on the night of Nov. 22, 2012 when I was playing for the Whitecaps U18 Elite against a younger boys team. I only had to wait a month to have my surgery (Surgeon: Dory Boyer), and from then it took a year and one month until I played in another game. I remember the first night after coming home from physio, sitting in my bed crying because I couldn’t do this stupid extension exercise, which turned out was the simplest exercise I was given over the entire period of my rehab. Throughout my rehab I looked back at that night and realized how much progress I had made. During the time I was recovering from my injury, I missed the Gothia Cup in Sweeden and Canada Games in Sherbrooke where my team won both tournaments.

Watching my team become one of the most successful years of the U18 Whitecaps Elite program, was very difficult, but it gave me even more drive to come back stronger and better than I was before. The hardest part of this hurdle was keeping motivated when the reward, playing a game, always seemed so far away. When the surgeon tells you that you won’t be playing soccer for an entire year, it is very hard to wrap your head around it without getting overwhelmed. I was Kelsey Smith the soccer player, so who was I now without soccer? During this year, I had the best team of athletic and physiotherapists (including Kevin Phillips, Chris Franks, and Rick Celebrini) who helped me through every bump in the road. I have to thank the Whitecaps for their tremendous support throughout my injury. I really couldn’t have asked for any more.

The hundreds of hours I put into my rehabilitation over those 13 months has paid off now, as I am back to full force, ready for my career at Grand Canyon University.

4. What fields of study are you entering, or would like to potentially major in at university and why?

The program that I will be entering is a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Pre-Medicine. This program prepares you for the medical college admission test (MCAT), and allows you to explore other areas such as sociology, psychology, ethical principles in health care and global health issues. I am also hoping to graduate with honours, as I have applied for the Honours Institute. After completing my four years at Grand Canyon University, I plan to attend medical school, and become a neurologist. Science and medicine has always been an interest of mine, and I have always known that I wanted to be a doctor. After my surgery on my knee, and my Grandpa having a stroke, I was able to learn a little more about what goes on in a hospital, but also how it affects the patients in it.

Fraser Heights’ Nikki Turney. (PNG photo)

NIKKI TURNEY

SCHOOL: Fraser Heights (Surrey)

FRESHMAN’S FUTURE: Nebraska

1. Who has been the biggest guiding influence in your soccer career and why?

There have been many who have influenced and guided me through the years; however it began early with my soccer coaches. From Surrey United, through the provincial teams (BC Soccer) and finally with the Whitecaps, all have contributed in some way to guide me into the player I am today. The coaches and my family have provided continuous support and encouragement on and off the field. My current coach with the Whitecaps, Jesse Symons, has always found the time to listen and provide an opportunity to help me with my skills. I can remember a time last season when he stayed an hour after practice to assist with my one v. one defending and he continually adds off field support by contacting university coaches to help support his player’s dreams of playing soccer while attending university.

2. You are all such accomplished players, but please explain what it is that you love most about your sport?

After 13 years, I can honestly say I don’t know what I would do without this sport. I love the level of competition it brings and how it forces me to challenge myself both mentally and physically to be at my best. The U-18 Girls Elite program brings together the top players in BC; therefore the level of competition in every practice and game is extremely high. I have made lifetime friendships through soccer and I know these friendships will continue through university even though we are thousands of miles apart. I have been playing soccer with this core group for about six years and they have become family.

3. What is the biggest hurdle you have had to overcome to become the player you are today?

I have thankfully not had many major setbacks; however, I have had a few nagging injuries over the past four years. Some years it felt that I was just starting to progress only to suffer another setback before a big game or tournament. I started to doubt if soccer was the best sport for me and my lack of confidence was evident to the coaches around me. This year I decided to be more proactive and strengthen the weaker muscles and basically do a better job of taking care of my body. Less injury, with more field time has brought back my confidence in my ability and my love for the sport.

4. What fields of study are you entering, or would like to potentially major in at university and why?

I am attending the University of Nebraska to play soccer for the Huskers. UNL has a tradition of excellence in sports and excellence in education. The Huskers are a top-ranked soccer team yet still encourage community involvement and support. I have been accepted into the Environmental Science program for the fall, with hopes of eventually moving into Marine Restoration. I have always been interested in the environment and it has been my goal to work towards change no matter how small.

Burnaby South’s Seina Kashima. (PNG photo)

SEINA KASHIMA

SCHOOL: Burnaby South

FRESHMAN’S FUTURE: Trinity Western 

1. Who has been the biggest guiding influence in your soccer career and why?

My dad has been the biggest influence because of his non-stop support. He always attends my games and encourages me to push myself and improve to be the best that I can be.

2. You are all such accomplished players, but please explain what it is that you love most about your sport?

I love being a part of the team. Knowing that you are not only playing for yourself but for the people around you. They are there to celebrate the good times and to support each other during the hard times. They become your second family.

3. What is the biggest hurdle you have had to overcome to become the player you are today?

I didn’t make the first two years of the provincial team and it was always a huge disappointment. It forced me to continue to work harder and push myself. I ended up not trying out the next year and went to Europe with my club team. It helped me fall in love with the sport again and the following year I made team BC and eventually the Whitecaps.

4. What fields of study are you entering, or would like to potentially major in at university and why?

Next year I will be studying education and possibly linguistics as I enjoy spending time and teaching children. I also enjoy languages and learning them.

Ecole Panorama Ridge’s Chelsea Harkins. (PNG photo)

CHELSEA HARKINS

SCHOOL: Ecole Panorama Ridge (Surrey)

FRESHMAN’S FUTURE: Washington State

1. Who has been the biggest guiding influence in your soccer career and why?

There are two people who have influenced my soccer career. First of all my coach Jesse Symons, I would not be here if it wasn’t for him. When I was 12 I played for Jesse for the first time when I played on his Whitecaps prospects team and that’s where my love for soccer really grew.

Jesse has allowed me to be creative on the ball and hasn’t restricted me to do certain things. By having him as a coach I’ve been able to grow into the player I want to be and I know that without him I wouldn’t have the opportunities I have before me. The second, as cliché as it sounds, is my amazing Mom. My mom was my coach from the moment I started playing up until I was 16. She really is a “super mom” because for the past 13 years she’s supported me on and off the field. I like to tell her that my scholarship isn’t just mine; it’s ours because she put just as much work into my soccer career as I have! Not only is she my best friend but my biggest supporter and I would never have made it this far without everything she’s done for me.

2. You are all such accomplished players, but please explain what it is that you love most about your sport?

There are lots of things I love about soccer.  For starters soccer has given me so many amazing opportunities to travel. For example last year I was lucky enough to go to Sweden for the Gothia Cup.  I’ve met some pretty amazing people along the way too. The 11 girls that are graduating from my team this year, I’ve been lucky enough to have played with them since I was 13, so they’re not just my teammates but my sisters in way. We’ve grown up together on and off the field and I’m really lucky to have them. I also love the way I feel when I play. There’s something about the way the ball feels on my foot when I’m dribbling as fast as I can or the way it feels to hammer a ball to the back of the net.

3. What is the biggest hurdle you have had to overcome to become the player you are today?

Three years ago my Dad died from Acute Myeloid Leukemia. During his final months soccer became more than just a game for me; it became my outlet and my life. Whenever I was stressed or upset all I wanted to do was kick a ball around.  My dad always made an effort to come to every one of my games and he always loved watching me play so now when I play, I’m not just playing for me, I’m playing for my Dad. After he died, my drive to succeed only amplified, so even though he’s no longer here, he’s still pushing me to be the best that I can be.

4. What fields of study are you entering, or would like to potentially major in at university and why? 

At Washington State I plan on Studying Education so I can one day be a high school French immersion PE teacher. I want to be a teacher because when my dad died, the support I received in and out of the classroom from my teachers was amazing. So I want to one day help kids like me.

Surrey Christian’s Sessen Stevens. (PNG photo)

SESSEN STEVENS

SCHOOL: Surrey Christian

FRESHMAN’S FUTURE: Memphis

1. Who has been the biggest guiding influence in your soccer career and why?

A variety of coaches have encouraged and sacrificed their time to help me become the player I am today. Without their recommendations, time and support, I would not be the player I am today. A few coaches during crucial moments in my growth as a soccer player have impacted the way I play. Two coaches in particular who have been the biggest guiding influences are Brendan Quarry and Jesse Symons. Brendan was one of the first coaches who encouraged me to take players on one v. one, and this helped me realize it is one of my strengths as a player. Jesse, my current coach, has been one of the coaches who has continued to push me to be the best, suggesting areas to refine or certain aspects of my game to focus on. I remember being called up to the Whitecaps Girls Training Team at U12, also coached by Jesse, because they thought I was good enough. For almost half the year I was nervous and dreaded the long drive up the SFU hill to each practice. But it was the year of stepping outside my comfort zone and training with some of the top girls in the province that pushed me to be better and try new things, such as the provincial team the following year. The four years with the provincial program with the guidance of those coaches and many other club and program coaches have all influenced my soccer career and who I am as a soccer player today.

2. You are all such accomplished players, but please explain what it is that you love most about your sport?

Ever since I was little I couldn’t get enough of soccer. I would play everyday at school, then come home, eat dinner and go to soccer practice. As I have grown older, both the time and intensity have increased yet I still find myself missing training on our rare time off. I feel as though I was born to play soccer and do something with the ability God has given me. I love the many opportunities soccer has provided me. The ability to travel with teammates who are like family, to places like Sweden, or participate in tournaments such as Canada Games, where we were able to interact with athletes from all over Canada.

In the end, I just love having the ball at my feet, taking on players, competing and pushing myself to be better each day. Even when I can’t play soccer anymore, I know I will stay involved in the sport, because I was made to play it and I love it- there’s just something about the game that keeps me coming back.

3. What is the biggest hurdle you have had to overcome to become the player you are today?

I would say overcoming adversity has made me the player I am today. I have had to deal with injuries, position changes, and like many athletes can relate- a lacking social life (sad but true). However throughout my 12 years playing soccer, being diagnosed with compartment syndrome in November 2012 has by far been the toughest challenge. Compartment syndrome is when there is insufficient blood supply to the muscles and nerves due to increased pressure within one of the muscle compartments. Basically the fascia which holds my muscle has too much pressure being exerted on it by the muscle and for me- causes cramping and numbness. Specialists told me I could give up soccer – which was not even an option for me, or choose between surgery or manage it myself. I chose to hold off on surgery and worked with trainers to find alternative ways to decrease the symptoms in my lower leg. I have had previous smaller injuries, but this specific injury really made me realize how much I would hate to lose the ability to play soccer.  This injury pushed me mentally and physically to stay disciplined in order to keep it under control. Although I still feel the odd cramping, my compartments have improved drastically, and each time I play I am reminded of how fortunate I am to still be playing soccer almost pain free.

4. What fields of study are you entering, or would like to potentially major in at university and why?

I will be entering into biochemistry or Exercise and Sports Science, with a pre-med track, in the honours program. I hope to become a doctor and medically help people around the world as well as in my own community. I find the human body extremely interesting and love learning more about it

188 million

There were an average 188 million viewers per match for the 2010 World Cup. And with a high-scoring tournament in high-energy Brazil, those figures will probably surge in 2014. In multicultural Metro Vancouver, with 21 distinct neighbourhoods identified in Vancouver alone, each one of the 32 World Cup teams has areas of support, from the Azzurri faithful on Commercial Drive, to Iranian fans cheering in cafés on Lonsdale Avenue. Here’s a breakdown of the numbers and trends behind the fan frenzy in Vancouver.

30 per cent

Ian Tostenson, president of the B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association, says this World Cup is turning into a perfect storm for the industry, in a good way. The close time-zone relationship between Brazil and B.C. has fans packing cafés during daytime games, and staying there. So far there has been a 30 per cent spike in restaurant and bar sales.

“B.C. business productivity is going down while restaurant sales are going up,” Tostenson said with a laugh. “People are going out for lunch at work, watching a game and having a beer, and then saying ‘let’s stay for the next game and have a few more.’ ”

55 +

Elliot Chun, communications manager for Future Shop, says that in Vancouver the chain is seeing a “significant bump” in sales of big screen TVs, home theatre systems, and even tablet devices, as soccer fans and commercial clients expand their viewing environments for the World Cup.

“We are seeing a lift in sales of the big screens that are 55 inches and over,” Chun said. “It’s similar to the Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup run or the Vancouver Olympics. People want to impress their friends for World Cup parties, and some restaurants are ordering multiple screens to bring in fans.”

The Big 8

Damon Hollowchak, marketing manager for the Donnelly Group, says he can’t put a figure on how many kegs the chain of bars is ordering in comparison to the average late June period, but it’s up. Way up.

“It’s been crazy,” Hollowchak said. “The best comparison I can make is if the Canucks were playing deep into the playoffs, but that’s only seven games. We have a lot more games in the World Cup. And you have to remember — soccer fans love beer.”

Hollowchak said in Vancouver the highest volume of beer tends to flow when six traditional powerhouses play: England, Spain, Brazil, Netherlands, Germany, Italy. And add to that group two teams connecting with Vancouver supporters this year: Japan and U.S.A.

12,977

For workers that don’t have the luxury of ducking out to watch World Cup matches, online video streaming can help fill the void. But hospital staff in Vancouver were watching so much soccer last week that health authorities had to step in. A memo was sent to workers at Vancouver Coastal Health, Providence Health Care and Provincial Health Services Authority announcing the disabling of World Cup video streams, a VCH spokeswoman confirmed. The memo noted “excessive congestion on the Internet feed during game times,” with “the potential to directly impact patient care.”

The upshot? For the next few weeks about 12,977 Vancouver Coastal Health staffers will have to get creative if they want to catch games at work.

Jennifer Saltman
The Province

While most B.C. fans flooded local bars, restaurants and social clubs to celebrate Germany’s World Cup win, Maple Ridge native Montana Yorke was at the centre of the action, on the soccer pitch in Brazil.

Andre Schürrle of Germany kisses girlfriend Montana Yorke.

The 21-year-old was there to support the team, of course, and one player in particular — her boyfriend, star forward André Schürrle. Photographers captured the young couple embracing after the game, during which Schürrle assisted on Germany’s winning goal, and the images circulated around the world.

Photos: World Cup spotlight shines on Maple Ridge’s Montana Yorke

“I have no words to describe how proud I am of my man and the entire German team. Hard work pays off,” Yorke captioned an Instagram photo showing her and Schürrle looking into each other’s eyes after the game.

The press, in Britain in particular, lavish attention on the wives and girlfriends — or WAGs — of soccer players. There are websites devoted to them and they show up in the news as often as their partners’. Stories have been written about Yorke receiving a new football jersey from Schürrle and a video she posted of Schürrle failing to tie up a necktie.

Since the World Cup started, Yorke has been featured on a number of sites, including the New York Daily News’s list of “The Hottest World Cup WAGs.” She’s amassed more than 60,000 Instagram followers and 8,800 Twitter followers.

Her followers are treated to perfectly posed selfies, family pics and shots of herself and Schürrle with captions such as, “we had such a beautiful time in Heidelberg the past 2 days I truly am a lucky girl #sadtoleave #BrazilBound” and “had the most amazing day with the man of my dreams today! #familytime.”

According to reports, the brunette met the 23-year-old footballer over the Christmas holidays and they have been dating since January. Yorke now lives in London, where Schürrle plays for Chelsea Football Club.

Yorke’s parents, Stephen and Susan, still live in Maple Ridge. Her 18-year-old brother Dalton plays defence for the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets.

jensaltman@theprovince.com
twitter.com/jensaltman

As Jim Jamieson writes for us this morning, the leisurely start to the season is over for the Canucks, as tonight they start a stretch of typical travel games for the local heroes.

The team is younger, more energetic and certainly being managed better by the current coach. But it will still be interesting to see how some of the older players hold up to the travel this season, and if they fall off the cliff the way they did last year after going through the Tort-o-grinder following a decent start. Jim has five things to consider for this recent road trip and it’s worth a read.

Rivalry game

While it’s not the most natural rivalry in the NHL, the Canucks’ game against the Stars is, well, Star-crossed to say the least. Of course, there are the connections with the owners and their famous court battle for the Canucks before Tom Gaglardi moved on to buy the Stars, but as Mike Heika of the Dallas News points out, with Gully, Lidster and Willie behind the Canucks bench, these teams know each other well.

Trash talk

It’s good to know the Ice Girls want to beat the Canucks. Now, do they know where Vancouver is?

It's game day! BEAT THE CANUCKS🌟👊🐋

Photo credit: @djceraldi http://t.co/W3pqiPMAuA—
Emma (@DSIG_Emma) October 21, 2014

Getting a bad reputation?

Ben Kuzma has an interesting take on the situation around Zack Kassian and the fact Alex Burrows has attempted to bring him under his wing and give him advice about how to handle some extra special scrutiny from the officials.

If nothing else, we are just thrilled to be able to run this as much as possible:

Horvat’s Comet

OK, there is already a ban on “Bo Knows” headlines here at The Province. One, because it’s unoriginal and been done to death since the kid was drafted. Two, because it’s a 30-year-old reference right up there with Bachman–Turner Overdrive puns.

Regardless, good news yesterday that now the Canucks prized rookie is healthy, he has been sent to Utica for a conditioning stint. We know the ridiculous rules the NHL has with being unable to leave Horvat in the AHL, that he would go back to junior hockey. But this is a great option for the Canucks to really see what Horvat has playing against full-grown men and not kids, and really see what the best situation for his development would be this year.

Pacific press

The Oilers finally won their first game of the season last night, beating the Lightning 3-2. While Steve Stamkos and Co. weren’t enough to entice fans to keep the Canucks sellout streak going, Tampa are a fun team to watch that haven’t been out this way enough thanks to the NHL’s dumb scheduling policy, which has thankfully now changed.

Fans in Edmonton did get a treat last night, and we all know how much they’ve been through. They got to see Jonathan Drouin’s NHL debut. It wasn’t spectacular, but it was great to see the third-overall pick from 2013 finally play an NHL game. As if having the NHL’s best goal scorer in Stamkos isn’t enough, they also have a great defensive prospect who is starting to step into elite status in Victor Hedman and now such a high prospect as Drouin.

It really does illustrate that the best way to make an impact in the NHL is to bottom feed for a few seasons and stock up on high draft picks rather than be in that spot drafting 10th or lower and be stuck in mediocrity. Of course, on the other side of that argument is the Oilers.

Dallas delusion

So last night the Oilers won their first game in six tries and are still a –13 in goal differential. Despite that, coach Dallas Eakins offered up this beauty before the game:

“I still feel we are a far better team. We’ve played far better than we did last year.”

Now, part of that might be managing a young group and feeling they need a lift and something positive rather than plunging deeper into despair. But honestly, you have to wonder if the Canucks really dodged a bullet when they decided to pass on Eakins. And yes, I know they passed on him for this guy.

At least they pulled the plug quickly on Tortorella. With a “young, intelligent” coach like the rep was with Eakins, they may have felt compelled to stay with the hire longer than a year.

Canadian content

The Montreal Canadiens are not only the best hope for a Canadian team this season, they’re legit Stanley Cup contenders. You look at the talent the Habs have and not only is it well-balanced with some offensive dynamism, toughness and speed, they’re young. This group really seems to be growing into the role of a contender together and a new website feature for them on Habs TV shows that off, with team leaders Carey Price and Max Pacioretty involved in a spirited game of Hungry Hungry Hippos.

On another note with the Habs, there are some great local angles for fans here to follow. Of course, that begins with B.C. boy Price in net, but also with team spark plug Brendan Gallagher being a Vancouver Giants legend. There’s also this “Darwinian struggle” for a spot on the fourth line with notable former Canucks Dale Weise and Manny Malhotra. It seems Weise is having to wait his turn while Malhotra, who was deemed finished by Mike Gillis two years ago, is leading the NHL in faceoffs and has entrenched himself in the locker room as a huge positive influence. Who knew?

If that’s not enough to get on the Habs bandwagon, there’s also the little matter of the blood feud with Gallagher’s ex-teammate and local lightning rod Milan Lucic.

Fast Break, Lakers legend on the rocks

Interesting piece in ESPN the Magazine on the start of the season, where it says the big problem with the Lakers is Kobe Bryant.

Seems not only his diminishing skills, but the piece has a whole bunch of unnamed sources claiming most people in the NBA want nothing to do with Bryant and quality free agents want nothing to do with the team while he’s there.

“I’ve had a lot of clients in the last five years, good players, who didn’t want to play with Kobe,” says an agent who has had numerous NBA stars. “They see that his teammates become the chronic public whipping boys. Anyone who could possibly challenge Kobe for the spotlight ends up becoming a pin cushion for the media. Even Shaq.”

It’s a long read. If you want the short version and just the juicy bits, Deadspin sums it up nicely here.

Tip of the Caps

Our man Weber has a great piece this morning on Whitecaps co-owner Jeff Mallett and his desire to have a home playoff game for the club.  They have the closest thing to a home playoff date on Saturday, hosting the dead-and-buried Colorado Rapids. If they win, they’re in the playoffs in a one-game, winner-moves-on match versus the fourth-place squad, likely Dallas. That brings up an interesting dilemma for Mallett, who was speaking to Weebs from Kansas City, where he’s arrived to take in the World Series as part owner of the San Francisco Giants. He claims he’ll come back for the Caps’ match unless the “Giants have a chance to sweep and win.”

Of course the Caps have to beat Colorado to get in on their own terms, but if Portland loses to Dallas, the Caps are in regardless. Vancouver won’t have anyone to blame but themselves if they don’t get in, as Portland has a brutal mountain to climb. Not only is the game IN Dallas, where the hosts can still move up to third and have something to play for, but Portland is playing Club Olimpia on Tuesday IN HONDURAS in the CONCACAF Champions League. Not exactly a local derby. They’re taking every player available and will decide before the game who will play and who will rest for the weekend, which, according to coach Caleb Porter is their priority, having never made the MLS playoffs.

“We need to win the Dallas game or get a result in that game,” Porter said. “Which would mean we would play a different group in the Olimpia game, because the priority is getting in the playoffs.”

Verdict in

If you haven’t heard, the verdict has come down on Oscar Pistorius. The famed disabled runner got away with murder, but was charged with manslaughter and the verdict came down this morning: five years in prison, of which he is expected to serve just 10 months, for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steencamp. The judge said giving him a long sentence would “lack the element of mercy.” Wonder how Steencamp’s family feels about mercy for Pistorius?

Halloween havoc

Over on the other side of the newsroom, our city desk ace reporter Cheryl Chan has a great piece on sexist Halloween costumes, for kids as young as four. Yes, FOUR! Thankfully Value Village has pulled the costumes after complaints.

Royals? The Royals!

The World Series starts tonight and I would think most neutral fans would love to see the Kansas City Royals beat San Francisco. Considered one of the smallest small-market teams, the Royals were no-hopers for three decades and the economics of baseball told us they were never going to have a shot. This run, and this season for them, has been magical. So magical the city is freaking out at the prospect of the Series starting tonight. One columnist says it’s the biggest story in Royals history. They’re worried about the health of James Shields, so much that it almost encroaches on the injury to the most famous Royal of all, George Brett: “The greatest playoff injury in Kansas City sports is still, and likely always will be, George Brett and the hemorrhoids in 1980.”

Enjoy the Series everyone.

BURNABY — Last season, the Panorama Ridge Thunder never lost a match at the B.C. boys Triple A soccer championships with the game clock ticking, but all they got for their trouble was a fifth-place finish.

“We had a great season last year but we lost out in a shoot-out to go to the semifinals,” began Thunder coach Darryl Vanderark. “I think the guys felt they were a little robbed last year, and I think because of that, they really wanted to win it all this season.”

Twelve months later, the Thunder finally struck for Surrey school.

Kerman Pannu, en route to tournament MVP honours, scored all three of his team’s goals Saturday as Panorama Ridge blanked North Vancouver’s reigning champion Sutherland Sabres 3-0 in the provincial final at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.

Whearas last season’s team was a powerhouse squad that won the Fraser Valley title and rolled into provincials as one of the favourites, this season’s Thunder squad had to take a more circuitous route to the title, battling through a tough pool, and the rallying in Friday’s semifinal across city rival Tamanawis, surrendering the match’s first marker but eventually winning 2-1 on Imraj Chhina’s deciding goal.

Pannu, a sniper all season, was at his best Saturday.

In the 80-minute match, his 39th-minute strike off a free kick from 25-yards was a massive goal, sending his team into the half with a late surge of momentum.

In the second, Pannu nodded home a corner in the 65th minute, before heading home a cross on the 75th minute from Chhina to make the 3-0 final complete.

“They were the defending champs and they came out like it,” said Vanderark, who co-coaches the side with Paul Nowakowski and Sunny Deol. “They played like champions and they pushed us. We told our guys they had to weather the first 10 minutes and then we’d be able to push back. After last year, we just wanted it so bad.”

The title was the third varsity soccer crown for the school and the first boys AAA title.

Panorama Ridge won the boys Double A title in 2008, while its girls team won the Triple A title in 2012.

Coquitlam’s Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils defeated Tamamawis 4-0 in the bronze final.

DOUBLE A

The St. Michaels University School Blue Jags got a goal from Callum Montgomery that held as the winner on Wednesday as the Victoria school topped Kamloops’ Sa-Hali Sabres 1-0 in the B.C. Double A championship final, also staged at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.

Brian Im and Matty McColl shared the tournament’s Golden Boot award for most goals scored in the tournament.

The victory caps banner efforts by the SMUS teams over the past few months.

Last March, the basketball team loss to Lambrick Park in the championship final of the B.C. Double A basketball championships. Then late last May, the SMUS rugby team lost in the provincial Double A semifinals to West Vancouver’s Rockridge.