Provincial Champions, the U15 Boys Vermilion Strikers Soccer Team. Photos submitted
At Soccer Provincials in St. Paul from July 6 - 8, the Vermilion U15 Boys claimed the title of Provincial Champions, and the U15 girls finished fourth. The U17 boys also competed in the Soccer Provincials in Camrose and finished with a Silver medal. “The Vermilion Strikers U15 Girls had a successful season complete with their 4th place finish at Provincials! Their love for the sport was apparent through the skill and commitment they brought to each game. Every player displayed an incredible amount of heart, and their support for one another on and off the field was never-ending. Way to go girls!” said Lindsay Willis. U15 Boys head coach, Allan Drinkwater, felt lucky to have coached the same group of boys for two years in a row. According to Drinkwater, the team did exceptionally well this year. They started the season strong with three wins and two losses in the league, won Bronze at a tournament in Sherwood Park, Silver at the Camrose Night Classic Tournament, Gold at Lakeland Cup in Vermilion, and won Gold at the Provincial Tournament with one draw and three wins. A highlight for the team was that they only had one goal scored against them during provincials. During their Gold medal game, the final score was 2 – 1 against Athabasca. “The parents were an amazing group of people who all came to support the Provincial Tournament. The boys showed up to play, and through the tournament, they even persevered through injuries - they wanted it. The boys worked extremely well together, keeping good communication and teamwork, as well as playing off of each other’s strengths. The level of excitement was through the roof when they won; I was really lucky to be a part of it! The support of the having the Vermilion Soccer Association behind us also helped; without them and the parents it wouldn’t be possible for children to play, and it’s really good for our community.” said Drinkwater.
Vermilion U15 Girls at Provincials in St. Paul.