The Upper Island Riptide soccer club is enjoyed a successful opening weekend Sept. 14/15 when all teams were in action.
On Saturday, the U14 girls beat the Storm 1-0 in Nanaimo. The U16 girls then took to the pitch against the U17 Storm girls team. The Riptide stole the victory with a stunning first-time left-footed cracker from Isabella Garret in the 89th minute.
On Sunday, the U15 boys played at the Vanier Turf and went down 2-0 at the half against the U15 Victoria South team. Finding themselves in a hole, the boys dug down and fought back to a 3-2 victory.
The U16 boys then played the U16 Storm and started the game with 12 players. At the half, the locals were up 2-1 with some tricky play and excellent goals from stellar play of a newly-added foursome from Powell River. In the second half, the team started with 10 players due to injuries, but the Riptide held on for a 2-1 win.
The U18 Riptide boys lost 4-1 to the U18 Bays team in Victoria.
In the final game of the weekend, the U18 girls defeated the U18 Storm 3-1 in Nanaimo.
“The results from the weekend certainly worked out in our favour, however, most importantly our teams showed program wide their ability to respond to adversity,” Riptide technical director Shel Brodsgaard said. “All teams fought hard, played with passion and fought hard to compete at the level that is promoted by the individual team coaches for the MOWI Riptide.”
This weekend, the U14 and U16 girls play at home Saturday. The U18 girls and U18 boys play at home Sunday.