Injuries derailed a run at a provincial championship for the Samuel Robertson Technical secondary senior boys soccer team.
The SRT squad qualified for the provincials for the second straight year, and in its first game of the tournament beat a tough Notre Dame squad 2-1. Spencer Pallone and Jesse Erhardsen were the scorers.
Injuries to key players saw the team struggle, and SRT finished 12th with a win, a tie and three one-goal losses. The tie was against Carihi (Campbell River) 1-1, followed by losses to Smithers 1-0. L.V. Rogers (Nelson) 1-0 and Sa-Hali (Kamloops) 2-1.
“We limped into the B.C.s due to injuries and barely crawled out,” remarked coach John Sneddon.
Erhardsen was named to the all-star team.
“In every game this year Jess proved himself to be the most valuable player on the team,” said Sneddon.
SRT players impressed the university coaches who attended, including Bruce Wilso of UVic and Pat Rohla of Trinity Western University.
SRT finished third in the Fraser Valley championship, beating Sands 3-2 in the bronze game on two goals by Pallone and one by Curtis Ogilvie.
Only six players return for next season, so 2013 will be a rebuilding year for SRT.
