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he 麻豆社国产Fireballs U16 Girls team鈥檚 Coastal B Cup dreams might have been extinguished by the Chilliwack Attack in Richmond on Sunday (April 27), but it has been a season to remember for the squad.
The Fireballs lost 1-0 in overtime to the Attack and goalkeeper Saleena Jian stood on her head all afternoon to keep the game deadlocked at zero. The Attack finally managed to squeeze one by Jian and held on for the narrow win in the final in Richmond.
Despite the setback, head coach Ken Bailey said it was a remarkable showing all year long from the team.
鈥淚鈥檓 not sure if a 麻豆社国产team has ever made it to the championship of a Coastal Cup tournament,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge accomplishment for these girls. We鈥檝e played together since September and played against teams from much bigger clubs from all over the Lower Mainland.鈥�
Bailey pointed out that many of the clubs in the Lower Mainland have several hundred players trying out, whereas the Fireballs had 14 players try out and those same 14 players hit the pitch all year long.听
The championship game featured Jian doing her best to keep the Attack off the scoreboard. Chilliwack hit a pair of goal posts and had a goal disallowed before they finally scored in the first overtime period.听
Squamish鈥檚 best chance came late in the second half when they had three straight corner kick opportunities but failed to generate any solid offensive opportunities.听
鈥淚 thought it was a good game and Chilliwack played us really tough,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淥ur girls held them off with sheer guts and they were exhausted at the end, but they left it all on the field. They should have no regrets and I鈥檓 really proud of the way they played all year.鈥�
Bailey said it鈥檚 a special group and the girls worked hard all year.
鈥淭his might be the last time this group plays together as a team because some players might not play next year or they move on to play on other teams or just develop other interests,鈥� he said. 鈥淢aking it this far is huge for the girls and the club of Squamish.鈥�
The Fireballs finished third of the 10 teams in the B.C. Girls Soccer League Division 1B (Gold 2) with six wins, four losses and three draws. They听then caught fire, winning their league tournament and beating the Coquitlam Inferno 2-0, North Shore Impact 2-0 and the Saanich Fusion 2-1 in Coastal Cup knockout play.
The season isn鈥檛 over for the Fireballs, as they qualified for the provincial tournament in July by making it to the finals of the Coastal Cup. The provincials are in Chilliwack and from July 3 to 6. It鈥檚 unclear who 麻豆社国产will be matched up with but the Attack will also be going to the tournament.
The team includes Makenna Bailey, Amhani Jones, Lyre Tuck, Shondra Martin, Alex Wade, Sierra Sproule, Eliza Eslake, Cori Lee Ward, Tory Crane, Allison Lane, Jae Makitalo, Kaila Lewis Belle and Emily Doyle.
Bailey said the Fireballs will take a few weeks off and then move forward with practices and exhibition games before the big tournament in July. For more details on 麻豆社国产Youth Soccer, visit www.squamishsoccer.ca.
