Soccer season begins
By Jim Bowman, Gabriola Sounder
Monday, September 29 2008
While the school’s elementary Bantam Eagles girls’ soccer team travelled for their first match last week, Gabriola’s club sponsored Nanaimo league teams opened their seasons on Saturday, September 20th.
The Bantam Eagles played a strong Cilaire team in Nanaimo. Coach Glen Murphy commented, “Considering several of the girls are quite new to soccer, the prospect of a real game gave them some trepidation. We faced a good team in Cilaire but the girls did well, holding them to just three goals in a 3-0 defeat. Krissy Higgins and Kayla Bell shared goal keeping duties and each made some fine saves. The girls came away smiling and realized they need to work on their positional play. The team felt that they were always in the game.”
The Tree Huggers hosted the Raiders, from Nanaimo. Co-Coach Sal Dominelli recognized the Raiders as one of the few teams that the Huggers did not beat last year, having tied them late in the season.
It didn’t take long for the Huggers to show that they’re back, following a highly successful season last year, and looking strong again. Five minutes in Brennan Mattes made it one 1-0. Next Benson Hamilton ran onto a ball passed behind the defenders by Brennan and doubled the lead. More pressure around the goal caused the Raiders to foul Chris Deggan in front of the goal, resulting in a penalty kick. Mackenzie Shaw took the pk and drilled the ball into the top corner for a 3-0 lead.
Four girls from last season’s Breakers team are on the Tree Huggers roster. With Isabella Dominelli on the limp, three played today. From left wing, forward Isabella Tang-Graham chipped the ball over top of the defence and Brennan slipped through to knock in the fourth goal. Later on Sarah Megyesi intercepted a clearing pass and moved the ball forward to Brennan Mattes. The counter attack resulted in a fifth Gabriola goal - this time from Zack Upton, assisted by Mackenzie - and put Gabriola firmly in charge of the match. Freya Jams got in on many tackles and helped cause fits to a beleaguered Nanaimo squad.
The Raiders regained some hope with a late goal. From the edge of the box, their striker lobbed the ball high into the top corner beyond the reach of first half keeper David Cosbey.
Re-energized from that late goal, the Raiders looked stronger coming out for the second half. Gaining several scoring chances, they had tough luck as some shots that got by second half keeper Trent Linklater rolled wide. Trent also denied them from scoring on a couple of chances, making fine stops.
As often happens when a team presses on offence, they give up chances; their hosts made them pay. Isaiah Gambrill pushed the ball through a wearying defence and scored from close in. Then Mac Shaw scored his second of the match to put the game well out of reach.
A solid 7-1 victory for the Tree Huggers.
Dave Reid and his Gabriola U11 boys’ team played in Ladysmith. The guys came away with a 4-1 win. Morgan Reid and Nina Bell-Peters’ Nanaimo rep team has opened with a loss and a tie. Morgan has one goal to her credit. Maireid Reid’s academy team tied their first match of the season.
The Reid’s must be one of Gabriola’s busiest sports families, with three kids on three different soccer teams and dad David Reid coaching two of those teams, one in Nanaimo and one on Gabriola.
Soren Dominelli and his Nanaimo U13 rep team sit in second place in a division of five teams, with a win and a tie.
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