The Sunshine Coast Storm U13 girls showed everyone this week why they are feared, why they are the ones to beat, and why anyone with a moment to spare should, if they know what’s good for them, go see this phenomenon in action. They were off to Burnaby for a Remembrance Day tournament on Wednesday at the huge Burnaby Lake Sports complex and a format they had never seen before. There would be four micro games with 13 minute halves, basically go hard from the whistle and don’t look back until it’s over. Right after each game they have a penalty shootout with each team. Both of these formats are separate potential medals, one for games and one for shootouts, and you could feel the exhilaration as coach Trina and Zoey prepared them for this soccer weirdness.
It became clear the girls got the memo. The Storm never let up. The speed and determination of Pippa Boothroyd and Paige Clucas made short work of the first team they played. With a solid 3-1 victory, one of those goals from Koenn Sauer lobbed poetically from half straight in. Running to the first shootout, the girls won that too.
The second game proved a close call, giving Ella Campbell and Mary Wood a lot to defend in the back field. Back and forth for a quick 26 minutes, and finally Leela Fernandes, given the opportunity she needed with a sweet pass from Jasmine Fitzsimons, slotted up to score the winning shot to make it 1-0.
In game three, Charlotte Thomson and Aila Brampton playing out in the flanks pushed hard to keep the ball alive. Gracie Hemstreet scrambled hard in the middle and Clara Pashkewych made some quick decisions to put one in for the tie, 1-1. The shootouts after were becoming a thrill for all to see, improvements abounded and enough of our girls put one in to take the score in our favour, a second win in this wacky competition of shots on goal.
In the final game for the win, first and second place teams pumped up and prepared to battle – go big or accept silver. Boom, the U13 Storm were loose like sugar freaks in a candy store, back and forth, brilliant plays and powerful passes spelled real time magic for the fans. Piper Goerzen and Teagan Sweet seemed bent on dominance. Faye Duffy, Aila and Paige tried everything in their arsenal. With time ticking dangerously fast, Clara did her thing in front of the net and pushed a loose ball in for the final win of the day in games. As the drivers looked at their watches and whispered the perfect ferry extraction plan, our girls began their final shootout. Down to the wire, shot after shot, back and forth, it was going to be close, one shot, sudden death, girl after girl trying to seal this and Koenn pops in the winner, giving the girls all the right stuff. The Storm flew away to the ferry smiling wildly with both championships, one for the tournament play and the other for the shootout competition. It was a stellar day in Burnaby.
In regular scheduled play this past Sunday, the Sunshine Coast Storm U13 girls hosted the Surrey United Fierce. The girls began the day sheepish and far too cautious for coach Trina to handle. Thanks to Pippa and Paige once again, fast plays and sweeping moves gave rise to hope. Pippa decided to rise up and make waves, Leela joined in to push hard full stride and Paige moved the ball like a pro. Pippa playing all positions made a great push on goal and made it 1-0.
In the second half we still needed more to seal this, and it came in the form of a penalty kick for Paige to slam in a decisive net burner giving the girls a nice 2-0. A great push from the Fierce made it 2-1 in the last minute of play, close. It became a case of holding on for the win, but a win is still a win.
