For the May long weekend, the U-14 Girls Riptide travelled to Kamloops for the 2012 Slurpee Cup soccer tournament. They played four games in the Tournament Capital of B.C. with 157 other teams from B.C. and Alberta.
First up was another Island team, the Prospect Lake Lakers, in what proved to be a spirited contest resulting in a 5-2 Riptide victory where each goal was scored by a different player. Player of the Game was Amelia Helpard from Comox. The second game was against the ultimately first place team Edmonton Juventus. It was a very competitive game with Edmonton taking a 1-0 lead before the Riptide tied the game late in the second half for a well-deserved 1-1 tie. Player of the Game was Ankia Shelrud from Campbell River.
The first game Sunday was an 8:30 a.m. kickoff against Prince George Kodiaks. A spectacular goal early in the first half earned Sloan Hofmann, from Cumberland, Player of the Game. The final score was an encouraging 2-0 for the Riptide.
Headed into the fourth and final game, Riptide had a chance at taking home first place in the tournament. After two gruelling halves, Vernon United scored a winning goal on a controversial play with one minute left. The keeper Cassidy Wood was voted Player of the Game for her outstanding work in goal.
The girls ended the tournament in third place with the highest overall goals scored in their division. The team would like to thank their sponsors, Comox Valley RV and Sea Roamer Marine Services for their financial support this year. They helped the team purchase new equipment and contributed to the funds necessary to make the trip to Kamloops possible.
– U14 Riptide