Athabasca’s U16 girls’ soccer team is on a ‘crusade’ for a successful season, and they’re off to a solid start.
The U16 Crusaders are currently second in their five-team league, having delivered strong efforts in all four of their games so far. They have won two, including a decisive 7-0 victory over Morinville earlier this month. They have lost two, including a hotly contested 1-0 defeat at the hands of Smoky Lake at the EPC field last Wednesday night.
It was the first time this season that Smoky Lake, which sits atop the league’s standings, was held to less than four goals in a game. So even though the game ended in a loss for the hometown girls, they were all smiles after the game, and rightly so according to their coaches.
“They played very well,” said assistant coach Rachel Ramey.
Head coach Dawn Nelson was equally impressed with the effort of the girls.
“It was a phenomenal game,” she said. “(Smoky Lake) is talented. They’re quick. You have to try to be first to the ball and play your very best.”
The Crusaders were able to do just that. Though they couldn’t break Smoky Lake’s defense to get a goal of their own, their ability to hold the offensive powerhouse to just one goal was a victory in and of itself, and hopefully, it’s something they can build on as the season progresses.
The Crusaders are the combination of three separate Athabasca teams that were active last season. Given that, the new team has become a cohesive unit in an impressively short amount of time.
“They’re coming along really well. They’re coming together and working together,” said Nelson.
The Crusaders will be back in action at the EPC field on Saturday at 4 p.m. for a game against Fort Saskatchewan. The local girls have already faced them this year, winning 5-2, so they will try to build on that success this weekend.
