Spurs bring home the hardware

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

Inter-cities took place July 16 to 17 and saw Edmonton’s best soccer teams play against Calgary’s best soccer teams. Three Strathmore Minor Soccer teams took part in the weekend, the U12 boys and the U12 and U16 girls teams.

For coach Ken Oliphant and his team, the U16 girls, going to play in the Inter-cities was a goal they had set from the beginning of the season. Oliphant said most of the girls showed up in Edmonton on the Friday wanting to make the most of the weekend. On Saturday the team was up against the top Edmonton team, Parkview, who they beat 2-1. 

“I think the Sunday game was just one game too many. We didn’t have any spares so we lost that game. The girls did absolutely everything they could, and they played really well and they didn’t embarrass anybody which is good,” said Oliphant. 

The girls were scheduled for three games, but then the other Calgary team dropped out at the last minute and so the U16 girls basically represented the Calgary Minor Soccer. Oliphant said he was happy with the way the girls played. They beat the top Edmonton team and he said obviously the second team was a little too much for them. The girls still came out with a silver medal.

“It’s a great way to finish the year and it’s a great way for all the hard work that the girls put in to get second. To come away with something was good,” said Oliphant.

“The girls – (with) the amount of effort and support they have given me to turn up and play the game – was really good. So to get the silver, it was a good return for them.”

He said the girls were pleased, the parents were very supportive and the weather was good. He said they couldn’t have asked for a better weekend for it.

“I want to thank the girls for their hard work, and I certainly want to thank the parents for the support because they’ve been brilliant throughout the season. If I’ve asked for anything, they’ve all done it,” said Oliphant.

He said one girl was on vacation in California for the two weeks prior to Inter-cities, and he was really struggling for players so her mom and dad drove all the way back so she could attend    

The U12 girls also had an issue with wearing themselves out too early thanks to a lack of subs. They won the first game of the weekend 5-2, but lost the second game 3-2, coming home with bronze. The U12 boys also walked away with a silver medal from the weekend.