Life between the pipes has treated Squamish鈥檚 Brooke Molby well.
And the 16-year-old goalkeeper is set to face shots from Canada鈥檚 best at the Sport Chek National Club Championships in Newfoundland starting today (Oct. 9).
After starring for 麻豆社国产clubs when she was younger, Molby made the move to West Vancouver鈥檚 Sentinel Secondary School to focus on her developing soccer skills.
鈥淚 left 麻豆社国产in Grade 8 to go to high school at Sentinel to join their soccer academy,鈥� she said, noting she still resides in Squamish. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a really good program and they have goalie-specific training.鈥�
Molby explained she hits the pitch each day from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at school and it鈥檚 been a big factor in her growing skills.
鈥淔rom where I was when I left 麻豆社国产I鈥檝e developed so much,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t first it was really difficult because it鈥檚 hard to leave your friends behind, but as time goes on it鈥檚 been easier and I鈥檝e made new friends and have some great teammates.鈥�
She now plays for Mountain United FC and it鈥檚 with that club that she will be taking on Canada鈥檚 best. Molby has traveled to places like Portland, San Diego and Seattle with the club and said this year her team put everything together. The team won the September to November short season and then won the BC provincials back in June to qualify for the Nationals.
The provincial championship game saw Mountain defeat Coquitlam 3-2 in a nail-biting game that was decided in the shootout. Molby said it was a memorable win.
鈥淭hat was a really scary and intense game,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e were down 1-0 then came back to tie it, and then both teams scored in overtime, it was very stressful.鈥�
But Molby seemed to handle the stress well as Mountain rode her back to victory. As a goalie, she isn鈥檛 a huge fan of shootouts, but said she鈥檚 learned to tolerate them.
鈥淚 used to like them, but I鈥檝e done a few too many now and I鈥檓 getting a little tired of them,鈥� she said, laughing. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say I like them, but the team is depending on you and there鈥檚 a lot of pressure. But when it鈥檚 done, whether you win or lose, you know it鈥檚 not really your fault. If you do win it鈥檚 the best feeling in the world because everyone is so happy and it鈥檚 because of you.鈥�
Molby said she likes her team鈥檚 chances in Newfoundland.
鈥淚 think we have a good shot,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel we鈥檝e really developed as a team this year and will do pretty well in Newfoundland.鈥�
Her family has always been behind her and her mother Sacha Molby said she鈥檚 excited to see her daughter compete against the best in the country.
鈥淢y husband and I are extremely proud of Brooke and we鈥檙e so excited for the opportunity to go to Newfoundland and watch her play,鈥� Sacha said. She is a dedicated goalkeeper and聽student 鈥� both important factors when聽planning to move forward as a student athlete in University.聽 Ultimately, we want the same as any parent wants for聽their child 鈥� for her to be happy in whatever she chooses to do.鈥�
The success of Mountain and Molby is likely to get attention from clubs all over and that鈥檚 exactly what she鈥檚 hoping for. She said she wants to continue playing soccer as she grows and eventually secure a scholarship to compete at the collegiate level. Her grades shouldn鈥檛 be an obstacle, as Molby maintains a sparkling 3.94 GPA, balancing soccer with her education.
Molby and Mountain hit the pitch in Newfoundland today (Thursday, Oct. 9) when they square off against the PEI representative. The team then takes on Nova Scotia on Friday (Oct. 10) before the playoff rounds begin. The National champion will be crowned on Monday (Oct. 13).
Stay tuned to The 麻豆社国产 for details on how Molby and her squad fares in Newfoundland.聽
