Spartans win with home field advantage

SHS Boys Soccer Coach

 

The Strathmore boys soccer team held one of their most important home games of the season against defending champion Foothills on Wednesday May 16.

Strathmore had a 2-3 record after the first half of the season and was sitting in fourth place behind the Foothills Composite Falcons.

The winner would gain third place and be on track to avoid meeting the league powerhouse Canmore in the first round of the four-team playoffs in June.

In their first match, two weeks ago, Strathmore surprised the former champion Foothills 5-3 in Okotoks in a solid but physical match.

“Foothills has come to Strathmore for revenge and reassert their dominance.  We know they are a good team, but so are we,” commented Coach Roger Gilbert.

Foothills jumped to a 2-0 lead and looked impressive in the opening 20 minutes. However, after inserting a good number of substitutions Strathmore scored three goals in the next 15 minutes with goals by Cliff Lee, a free kick strike by Juan David Velasquez and a brilliant header on a corner kick by team captain James Nakamura. Strathmore held on to the 3-2 lead into the half.

A thrilling second half started with Foothills drawing even to make the game 3-3. Nakamura broke the tie scoring on his own corner kick, a very difficult shot to curve around the goalie.

Foothills was awarded a penalty kick when Strathmore committed a foul in the penalty area and the game was tied again 4-4.

In the closing minutes of the second half both clubs had a goal called back, first Strathmore fouled the goalie while scoring and then Foothills goal was called back by a delayed but accurate out of bounds call.  It looked like the game would end a tie, but one more penalty kick, this time for Strathmore, was successfully completed by Velasquez and the Spartans held on for the victory.  

“I was a little nervous taking the kick,” said Velasquez, the talented Colombian-born forward who wears jersey #10, traditionally held for one of the better players.

The Spartans last home game was May 23 vs. Highwood High School (result not available as of press time).  If the Spartans win their remaining four games they could host a home playoff game on Monday, June 4. Enjoy the ride, boys.