Source for Sports found the right source last Sunday, edging the Gibsons IGA Blazers 3-1 in the championship final of the women's soccer league.
Blazers and Source were the two top teams after the weekend round robin tournament at Ted Dixon Fields. Blazers are the first team in six seasons to participate in the finals other than the royal trio of Xenichen Ya Yas, Sourceand Mayhem. To further mix it up and confuse things, Source did not beat the Blazers all season, but that changed on Sunday.
Source went up 2-0 on goals from strikers Tracey Cousins and Kim Starnes. Source's third goalsaw Tara Sweet battling Blazers' speedy defender Heather 'Ebbtide' Evans for 20 yards back into the Blazers' defensive zoneand then tucked one expertly into the sidemesh. Jasmine Dipietro scored the lone goal for Blazers.
Theinitial round robin matches were even and friendly, many of which were tied 0-0. The keepers were so phenomenal that the 'golden glove' awardfor top goalie was split three waysbetween Fusion's Michelle Graham, Pigs' Danielle Heguy and Blazers' Tammy Klashinsky.
Based on the points from the round robin, third and fourth place teams were league winners Mayhem and theYa Yas.
Ya Yas came off the bench sprinting and shooting, and after 30 minutes, were up 1-0. However,regular seasonwinners Mayhem wouldn't roll over as strikers Brooke Jaharus and Trina Geisbrecht had their way as they terrorized the Ya Yas back line for six goals.
From all the smiles and the sportsmanship over the weekend, it seemed like the teams really didn't care who won or lost. Like the Whos in Whoville, the women's league showed soccer can come without goalsornew shoes from the store. Maybe soccer doesn't have to tally the score,andmaybesoccer can mean just a little bit more.
At the award ceremonies, presentations for all-star team honours were awarded to Ya Yas' Carrie Dixon, Fusion's Andrea Aleong, Pigs' Ginny Blattler, Source's Amy Campbell and Blazers' Ashley Taylor. Voted by each of their teammates, MVP was awarded to Ya Yas' Rita Poulson, Fusion's Melissa Rayfield, Pigs' Laura Ewert, Source's Teagan Crozier and Blazers' Olivia McLean. The 'tough tuff' was awarded to the strongest defender with the longest boot and wentto Blazers' Dani Thompson, Pigs' Laura Ewert and Fusion's Andrea Aleong. The spirit award for most sportsmanlike was unanimously given to Ginny Blattler.
A conspicuously absent Sean Whalen was much thanked by the women's leaguefor hiscoaching, administration and field lining -all done on his own time.
