U16 Girl Spurs deserved better fate

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Spurs U16 girls were looking for some consistency and almost found it during a tight game against the McKenzie United Soccer Club on July 9 at the Ranch soccer fields.
The girls were edged 2-1 but felt they deserved a better fate in the game.
“It would’ve been nice to get a tie at least out of them, but the second best team, we beat twice and tied once,” said head coach Paul O’Leary. “Overall I think we’re having a good year but I guess we’re going to end in third place.”
He added that a tie would have been possible but there was a lot of inconsistent play on the field.
“We’re struggling at times to find our consistency,” said O’Leary. “We have great games and tonight we didn’t have as good of game, but they almost got their tie.”
O’Leary, who only started coaching the U16 outdoor team nine months ago, felt his team was able to compete in the four-team division, especially with a couple of talented forwards.
“We have two good forwards that can score and they’ve done it consistently for us,” said O’Leary. “She’s our goalie some nights but she’s often our centre defender. She’s a girl that orchestrates everything.”
Forward Michaelah O’Leary knew the girls could have been much better at attacking the ball, but otherwise was satisfied with the team’s effort.
“I think it was overall alright,” she said. “I wish we went to the ball a bit more. We’ve had trouble finding goalies, we’ve been switching out.”
For only starting to play the game last year, she has noticed improvements in her game.
“I’ve been challenged a lot, starting later than a lot of the girls, but I think it’s helped me overall because I like being challenged and it helps me improve,” she said.
The U16 Spurs finished up their regular season in Calgary on July 13.