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SG Soccer: SIT = Mustard and Donuts

9/16/2024

By Erik Van Dyke

After a full week of tryouts and practices and figuring out positions and getting to know each other, your Senior Girls Soccer Spartans faced real competition for the first time with the 2024 edition of the Stanstead Invitational Tournament (aka the Dyke ‘N’ Friends) this past Saturday.

Over the last four decades, the SIT has become not only an annual highlight for our players and fans, but the visiting schools REALLY love it. It is such a friendly and competitive day, early in everyone’s season, and we put on such a good show (thank you Mr. Spirk!) with our fields and our dining hall and our welcoming community and our perfect weather(!), that schools jockey with each other every year for a spot in the draw. And once again, the SIT did not disappoint, with five girls teams and four boys teams filling our picturesque campus with the sights and sounds of friendly competition and athletic camaraderie.

In terms of the soccer, we did some good things (vs strong opposition) over the course of our four mini-games (0-2 vs Galt, 2-2 vs Sacred Heart, 0-0 vs College de Levis, and 0-3 vs LCC);

In the opener vs Galt, first-year wing defenders Charlotte (on the right) and Annabelle (on the left) share Player Of The Game honours. Against consistent pressure from Galt’s attack, they both played with confidence, poise and zero hesitation. As a coach, you can learn some stuff about players from practice, but game situations and game speed tell you a lot more.
The Highlight Of The Tournament has to be veteran Addy's goal vs Sacred Heart (the first Spartan goal of 2024!). Not only because it was one of her signature rockets from 35 yards out, but because she actually tweaked her knee seconds before she took the shot! In fact, after the ball blew by the Saints’ keeper, Addy could only lift her arm in celebration for like one second before gamely hopping towards the sideline on one leg. Coach Kirby: “This will from now on be known as The Victory Limp.”
While not as flashy as the above play, our second goal vs Sacred Heart was probably more important, as it resulted from Nya sending a ball smartly into space for Isabelle to run onto, some quick throw-ins before Sacred Heart’s defence could get set, and a clever pass back from Ella to Emma for the finish. These principles will be critical to our offensive success this season.
There were a lot of reunions on this day – some of them teary!– with Allison and Charlotte and Maya and Bianca all reuniting with friends from Galt and Sacred Heart. When added to all of the parents who came to watch, it made for a fantastic atmosphere of family and friends.
The Kinder Surprise Of The Day – Sara leading the new team cheer with a full-throated roar that you could hear at Subway!
One of my favourite moments was Eva sprinting in from the left side vs CDL, forceful, intense, leaving the defence in her wake, launching a shot from just outside the box… all of it taking place 5 full seconds after the ref had called her offside and everyone had stopped moving. I love that laser focus…!
Speaking of focus, that 0-0 game vs CDL was our best of the day. We were more organized in the midfield– Maya’s excellent positioning had a lot to do with that – Isabelle and Ella were consistent threats on offence, both defensive trios were rock solid (Charlotte-Valerie-Annabelle in the first half and then Julia-Gabby-Allie in the second half), and Addy’s corner kicks just before game’s end (we came so close to winning right there) were bee-yoo-tiful. But Player Of The Game honours go to keeper Ava for her performance in the second half to preserve the shutout. Great hands, quick off her line, confident in her box, Ava was outstanding given this was only her eighth day of playing goalie in her life. And did I mention, she can punt with either foot?! This is my 32^nd year coaching. I have NEVER seen that.
Quote Of The Day: When asked to explain why we were having such a good game vs CDL, Allie and Isabelle reply in unison: “It’s the mustard, sir.” (Apparently, downing spoonfuls of pure hi-test mustard helps minimize leg cramps… or something… yeah, disgusting…)
Oh, how I loved seeing Ella dip her shoulder in a battle of leverage against an opposing player five years older and 40 pounds bigger than her, not intimidated one bit…
My proudest moment was watching how we fought in the second half of the LCC game. Down 3-0, constantly chasing the ball against a superior opponent, we could have folded. We could have given up. Instead, we played harder and tied the second half 0-0. This is the kind of team we want to be.
Ending the tournament with a checkerboard photo with LCC? Priceless…
Another round of thanks to Mr. Spirk for the new uniforms – sharp!
And thank you Alina and Charlotte for the donuts earned by beating Coach Van Dyke at bowling – maybe Coach learned a little something about humility…? No, probably not