The Riptide U14 girls soccer team faced Juan de Fuca/Sooke on home turf Saturday for its ninth game of the VIPL season. Being the last league game in 2014, Riptide needed a win to advance in the standings going into the New Year.
In the last two match-ups with Juan de Fuca/Sooke, Riptide earned a win and a tie so the team felt confident going in to the game and knew that, if they could overcome their recent somewhat dry spell in scoring, they would accomplish their goal of advancing past Upper Island Storm to take second place in the standings, just one point behind Saanich.
Both teams started strong and focussed. Riptide maintained most of the ball possession and had excellent scoring opportunities, including two corner kicks and an angled shot that hit the goalpost but deflected out. Fans were sure that Riptide was about to score any minute, but Juan de Fuca’s defence and keeper held strong and it was nil at the half.
As it has often happened in games, Riptide scored within the first five minutes of the second half. Sophie L rose to the occasion not only to score the first goal of the game, but scored again about ten minutes later, capitalizing on a direct volley from Tiana Stewart in front of the net after a corner kick from Aisha Hunter-Bellavia.
Then, in what was one of the most seamless passing plays of the game, defender Rosie Campbell fed the ball to Kaitlyn Dreger at midfield who found Frédérica Blouin-Comeau advancing on the left wing. Blouin-Comeau used her speed and ball handling skills to take advantage of her left kick, firing an angled shot to beat the keeper and find the top of the net.
That was the final goal of the game, earning Riptide a 3-0 win.
Registering their fourth shutout, Riptide’s defensive line and keepers, Nicolette Vinnedge and Freyja Reed, held the total goals scored against the team in 2014 to ten.
On behalf of the entire team and franchise, Co-Coaches Jim Stewart, Lisa Wigard, and Matt Laver would like to thank the community for its generous and consistent support and extend warm wishes for a Merry Christmas and joy, health, and prosperity in the New Year.
The Riptide U14 Girls soccer team, sponsored by Lacasse Construction, resumes league play in a home game against Saanich on January 17. For more information, visit the team’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/riptide2001girls
