The Marine Harvest U15 Boys Upper Island Riptide soccer team holds a strong mid-season record of 10-1-1.
The team represents the North Island in the Vancouver Island Premier League and is comprised of players from the Comox Valley, Campbell River and Powell River.
The team was crowned 2016 Provincial A Cup champions last year and is focused on repeating this amazing accomplishment again in 2017.
The boys earned four wins and one tie over their last five games against Lower Island teams. The team has a potent and well-balanced attack.
The creative midfielders led by returning Riptide players Sam Purcell, Cameron Bell, Brayden Hues, Corson Arbour and newcomer Josh Rolland have been very successful feeding strikers Jerod Timothy, Spencer Fleming and Alonso Cortez. Alonso Cortez has had multiple goal games this season and is always creating havoc in the opponent’s 18-yard-box.
The defence has played great all year, allowing only 18 goals in 12 games. Centrebacks Scott Gilfillan, Jakob Tortorelli and outside backs Andrew Petrovic, Macyn Leopkey Johnson, Josh Kalhous and Kennie Jollife have played patient and aggressive defence. Jackson Bowles has done an amazing job stepping up to be the goaltender this year.
The team has four regular season games left before playoffs commence in mid February. Their next home game will be on Jan. 8 at the Robron turf in Campbell River versus the Storm (Nanaimo).
Keep an eye out for the team doing fundraising at Superstore in Courtenay for upcoming competitions in the Lower Mainland.