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Soccer team picks up bronze medal

SPECIAL OLYMPICS
SO Soccer
The Sunshine Coast Special Olympics soccer team picked up a bronze medal at a two-day tournament in Abbotsford last month. Pictured left to right: coach Richard Hoath, Adam Casey, Bruce Stuart, Gus Vaughan, Alan Tsang, Chris Walker, Michael Beckman, Wes Harrison, Amber Mahar, Dustin Archer, Amanda Boghean and coach Laurie Miller.

The Sunshine Coast Special Olympic soccer team played in a two-day tournament in Abbotsford on the May 24th weekend, coming back to the Coast with a bronze medal.

Special Olympics soccer is modified to five players per side, and is mixed gender and open age. The Sunshine Coast team consisted of players ages 14 to 48. Many of the players have been playing since they were children, but some are new to the game.

One player had never played until a month ago, but his natural ability to “read the play” contributed to the team’s overall success.

The weather on Sunday was wet, and the final match started with athletes who were soggy from top to toe. The discomfort was soon forgotten after Sunshine Coast popped in the first goal. The game was close until near the end, when the host team Abbotsford let in a couple of hard shots, earning Sunshine Coast the win.

The team is looking forward to competing at the tournament next year and going for gold.