Forced to move a home game to the turf in Nanaimo by a soggy, unplayable field at Kwalikum Secondary School, the KSS senior girls soccer team went into Easter break with a last-minute, 3-2 loss to Wellington last Wednesday. The Kondors will seek a better result on the pitch — and a better pitch — when they host Dover Bay of Nanaimo in a game scheduled to be played Thursday, April 20 at KSS.
Charlotte Palmer, a Grade 11 who normally handles midfield duties, took on the goalkeeper role last week, “and made some great saves” against Wellington, Kwalikum coach Ruth Stefanek said. Both of the Kondors’ goals were scored by Grade 12 standout Alex Shaw, one of them coming off of her corner kick.
Though playing as a senior team, a limited turnout at KSS has forced the team to throw Grade 9 and even Grade 8 students into the mix. A pair of Grade 9 players — Olivia Williams and Catalina Magana, are already veterans, having played for the senior team last spring.
“Olivia Williams organized us in the back line, with strong play also by Julia Witte, Hannah Worthen and Alex,” said Stefanek. “Catalina Magana moved the ball smoothly through the central mid field, with hard-working effort from Maria Ligia Bandeira, Sophia Cockram, Itsaso Amelibia and Ameline Roberts-Kerbs. (We got) tireless efforts up front from Graci Li, Wakana Obara, and, playing for their first game ever, Joana Serra Veciana and Ana Sophia Escamilla.”
This week’s scheduled home game is still up in the air and depends on the condition of the school’s fields on game day. Last week’s trip to Wellington was hastily arranged on the day of the game, said Stefanek.
“Water is not draining from either field,” she said. “Parents and a grandparent stepped up at the last minute to drive, thank goodness.”
— NEWS Staff
