The boys youth rep soccer teams were all in league action on Sept. 18.
The gold division U12 Storm gave Richmond United a good game but dropped the tilt 2-1.
Jona Lussier went into the record book as he tallied Storm's first goal ever. Coach Glen Coady sees a future for the team after they adjust to having to be ready to stay in the game mentally for the full 70 minutes. The silver division U14 Coast Celtic got their first goal ever from Alex Pluschke in a 2-1 loss to Killarney.
The opponents were a physically bigger team with all their players 13 years old. The Celtic has a mix of ages from 10 to 13.
Coach Owen Parry is seeing improvement. Eli Paradis, at centerback and Skyler Lagace in goal had strong games as did, player of the game, Isaac Joe. Isaac will wear the prestigious original Celtic shirt for a week, the start of a tradition Parry is establishing for his young warriors.
U14 SC United gave the Coast a split with Richmond teams as they came home with a 2-1 win.
Goalkeeper Sam Hilstead was sound and centerbacks Jon Garmulewicz and Nick Murphy were solid. United hit Richmond with numerous counterattacks. Kerry Patrick Hlatky nailed two goals while United hit the crossbar and posts twice each.
The U16 Strikers had a bye but the team was active fund-raising. They were the young fellas that you saw collecting bottles and also selling hotdogs in front of the Gibsons IGA Marketplace. A successful day for the Strikers and they send their thanks for your support.
The girls' rep teams had byes but Dave Hargreaves' U14 Scorpions didn't take Sunday off. They played a friendly with the John Phare/Sean Whalen coached team from the Coast girls 14 to 17 league.
Scorpions showed the results of three years of high tempo coaching and the experience of playing on the Mainland. Noah Mithrush scored twice while Taylor Metcalfe and Sarah Rayner added singles in a 4-2 win.
A good warm up for the Phare/Whalen crew who start their league play on Sept. 25.
The Coast leagues will all be in action today (Sept. 25).
The 11 to 13 girls will start an 11-a-side format with five teams.
The initial intention was to play a nine-a-side format but the absence of coaches in the Gibsons and Halfmoon Bay areas resulted in increasing rosters on existing teams and going with the full format with a 90-minute game.
The girls 14 to 17 league will go with the 11-a-side lineup with six teams in action.
This week we say goodbye to a women's soccer enthusiast as Darlene Allen is moving to Squamish with her family.
Dar is one of the original founders of the women's league on the Coast and what a success that has been. We wish you well Dar. We hope you don't intend to hang up those soccer shoes yet.
