The U17 Upper Island Riptide wound up their regular season in the Vancouver Island Premier League on Jan. 25 with a 1-1 tie against the 1998 Juan de Fuca team at West Hills Stadium in Langford.
A tie was a fitting end to the regular season for this group of 15- to 17-year-old boys. Their soccer season started back in September with a 2-2 tie against the U18 Saanich Fusion in Saanich. Sandwiched between those two ties were an additional four ties, along with four wins and four losses.
With a final record of four wins, four losses, and six ties the boys move into playdowns in February holding fifth spot in the eight-team league. While make-up games will confirm the final standings, the Riptide boys appear to be heading south to Saanich to play their U18 squad in the first round. Their previous matches this season have both ended in ties.
The U17 Riptide squad is made up of boys from Campbell River, Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland, Denman Island and Nanoose Bay. The group has kicked off the 2015 portion of the campaign with a win and a tie and move into the playoffs with building confidence in their defensive play and intent on making their mark against their southern opponents.
Riptide coaches Paul West and Mike Rodgers see lots of potential in the group and they seem to be coming together as a team just in time to make a playoff run – the next month will be an exciting time for the team. The Riptide want to say a huge thank you to their new team sponsor, WIRED Electrical & Design.
– U17 Upper Island Riptide