The Athabasca Soccer Association’s U16 boys team put up a valiant effort in the Value Drug Mart Polar Cup in Edmonton this past week, despite being extremely undermanned.
With only seven players gracing their roster, the U16s were unable to pull out a win in the tournament, but as head coach Denis Major said, it was more about the team’s spirit.
“The guys just played their hearts out,” he said. “They played really well.”
With school holidays still in full swing, the U16s, who are used to playing with a small 11-man team, went up against squads with more than twice their numbers, and in the end were just too much to handle.
“We didn’t win a game,” Major stated. “We tied one game.”
But despite what the scoreboard said, Major was proud of the way his team played.
“We got lot’s of congratulations (from the crowd) after each game.”
The U16s lost their first game 6-1 against Fort Saskatchewan, tied their second 5-5 with Beaumont, then fell in their final two matches of the tourney.
“The team stood tall,” Major commended of the players who made the trip to Edmonton.
Along with Major and assistant coach Lee Loxam, the team’s roster included goalie Josh Smith; defensemen Jason Gullion and Colin Major; midfielder Kegan Richardson; and forwards Sam Davis, Sheldon Feal and Tristan Pawlchuk.
Next up for the U16s is the 2011 Power Play Cup, also held in Edmonton, from Feb. 4-6.
