To some, a seventh-place finish at Surrey 2012 BC Summer Games is just that, but to the girls’ soccer team from Cariboo-North East, it was a new record.
That’s according to team member Olivia Poggenpohl of 108 Mile Ranch who says it was the first time in Games history Cariboo did not place last in girls soccer and it was also the first time they ever scored goals – five to be exact.
The team had one win and it came in a 3-0 shutout game against Terrace.
Olivia and her twin sister, Sydni, are ecstatic about being part of the history.
“I was amazed that Zone 8 broke two records,” says Olivia, who played left midfield for the team. She didn’t score any of the goals, but says she had a great time playing.
“I learned something new and made some new game plays.”
Sydni played defence and says it was exciting to play against such skilled teams.
“The competition was very tough and our team got better as the games went on.”
She also enjoyed going on a shopping trip in downtown Vancouver where they saw the Vancouver Winter Olympics torch.
Sydni says her coach talked about keeping the team together as a tournament team and she would like to see it happen.
The BC Summer Games hosted 2,300 athletes, 474 coaches and 20 sports. The average age of athletes was just over 13 years. The Games have traditionally been an important step for athletes towards provincial and national team programs.
