It was déjà vu all over again for Ballenas Secondary School’s senior girls soccer team last week as they turned in a terrific effort and finished second out of 16 teams at the Carihi Challenge in Campbell River.
Their lone loss was 3-1 in the final to the perennial powerhouse Argyle Pipers, who they lost to in the final last year.
In action in Campbell River April 7-8 for the 16th annual Carihi Investors Group Challenge, the Whalers opened with a 2-nil win over St. Thomas Aquinas off goals from Alysha Lehmann and Emma Greig.
BSS beat the Parklands Panthers by the same score in game two, with Greig and Rachel Jones scoring.
The Whalers shutout out the Stelly’s Stingers 3-0 in the semifinal. Greig struck twice and Parklands added an own-goal.
“We lost to them 2-0 in last year’s final. It was a closer game this year,” said BSS coach Larry Stefanek. “It was a good game.”
The Pipers, from North Van, are currently ranked second in B.C. in AAA senior girls soccer.
The Whalers opened the preseason the week before in Chilliwack at the Best of the Best tournament.
“Great team performance,” said Stefanek, who is back for his second season at the helm of the senior girls side.
He has been coaching this group for the past four seasons with the help of assistant coach Tom Greig. The coach added Kim Watson, Rachel Jones and Emma “were excellent for Ballenas in both tournaments,” and that Rebecca was strong in goal.
Stefanek has 12 returning players this year — all of them seniors — on the roster of 17. Last year’s team finished second at the North Islands, second on the Islands and 15th out of 6 teams at the provincials.
“We’re definitely looking to build on last year,” said the coach, adding, “we have a very strong core group and some good new players as well.
Asked what the Whalers bring to the pitch, Stefanek said this year’s side has “lots of speed and we have a team that can possess the ball and pass it well and we’re going to be strong defensively but we’re going to be a very offensive attack-minded team as well.”
IN OTHER NEWS Ballenas’ junior girls soccer team won their home opener last Wednesday when they beat the Wellington Wildcats 2-1 in penalty kicks (overtime).
GAME ON
The Whalers play their first of five Mid-Island Sr. Girls league games tonight (Tuesday) in Cedar against the Spartans then make the trip down Island this weekend for a big tournament at UVic.
Their home opener is tentatively scheduled for Mon., April 18 when they host the Dover Bay Dolphins.
sports@pqbnews.com
