The Riptide U14 Girls soccer team travelled to Langford on Nov. 1 to play the Juan de Fuca/Sooke team in the Westhills Stadium. Although they were coming off a big win the previous week, Riptide was unable to capture its first win on the road and had to settle for a 0-0 tie.
Despite having about 70 per cent of the possession and generating several scoring chances, the Riptide were unable to put the ball in the back of their opponent’s net. A couple of shots hit the cross bar and the Juan de Fuca/Sooke goalkeeper made multiple saves. Then, in the final minute of the game, a Riptide player was taken down inside the box from behind while on a breakaway. The Juan de Fuca player was ejected from the game with a red card and a penalty shot was awarded. But it was as if there was a Halloween hex on scoring this day, as the penalty shot sailed high and the game ended in a scoreless draw.
Riptide’s co-coaches Jim Stewart and Lisa Wigard were quick to console their disappointed players afterwards and found some positives to take away from this game. “We possessed the ball well in the middle of the field and although both our keepers played well, they really didn’t see much of the ball the entire game,” said Stewart.
“Unfortunately we were just unable to capitalize on multiple scoring chances but we’re not overly concerned about it as scoring hasn’t been a problem for us so far this season,” Stewart commented. “We will continue to work on our finishing in the attacking third but we also recognize that this was just ‘one of those games.’ We will learn what we can from it and then forget it.”
A draw meant that the Riptide U14 Girls earned their first point on the road. Now the girls will be back hard at training this week, which, thanks to the team’s recent gold-level sponsor, Lacasse Construction, will begin indoors.
"The U14 Girls Riptide team is thrilled to announce and extend a gracious thank you to Lacasse Construction for joining our team as a gold-level sponsor," a team spokesperson said. "As the team develops, Riptide players will be encouraged to demonstrate the quality, honesty and devotion to the game that parallel Lacasse Construction's own mission statement in their family based contracting business.
"It is wonderful to have a local company with an excellent reputation join our regional-based U14 Girls Riptide soccer team, providing us with funds that will go directly to our indoor-based training facility cost this winter. This will enable the Riptide Girls to train at a high level throughout the winter season and into 2015."
The Riptide U14 Girls play their upcoming home game against the Saanich Fusion. In their last matchup against the Fusion, the Riptide lost 2-1 in Victoria so the coaches are anticipating another close game in the rematch at home this Saturday.
Game times and locations are updated Wednesdays on the team’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/riptide2001girls.
– Riptide U14 Girls