Slaying a Gryphon is always a tough chore, be it the mythical beast or the soccer-playing variety from Glenlyon Norfolk School.
The St. Margaret鈥檚 School Pandas found that out Tuesday afternoon, dropping a 6-0 decision to the host Gryphons in Lower Island senior girls鈥� league play.
With a 4-0 start (which has also included a 6-1 win over Lambrick Park and tighter 2-1 and 1-0 victories over St. Andrew鈥檚 and Vic High, respectively), GNS coach and director of soccer Sonny Pawar has the double-A Gryphons off to a perfect start.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good group of girls. This is my second year with quite a few of them. We鈥檙e on the right path as far as development goes. It鈥檚 been a good year, so far,鈥� said Pawar, whose group also edged St. Michaels University School 1-0 in the Independent Schools Association championship final.
鈥淎ny time you take on a St. Michaels team and find success, it鈥檚 always a positive,鈥� said Pawar, whose Gryphons have moved up to double-A from single-A. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a small school and just barely qualified for double-A, but it鈥檚 something we鈥檙e taking on as a challenge and something we鈥檙e looking forward to.
鈥淚 think we鈥檒l be competitive. It鈥檚 just a matter of taking our program to the next level,鈥� he added.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a learning process for many of the girls that we have,鈥� Pawar said of the goals the team has established. 鈥淲e tend to set smaller goals along the way and see where it takes us. So far this year, it鈥檚 been really positive and the girls have learned a lot and it feels like they鈥檙e coming together as a team at the right time.鈥�
On Tuesday, the Gryphons were led by talented Grade 11 student Chloe Korol-Filbey, who had a pair of goals in the 25th and 28th minutes to make it 4-0. The 16-year-old, who also plays for the Vancouver Island Wave club program, has already attracted interest from schools such as UVic and UBC.
鈥淪o far it鈥檚 been a great season, so we鈥檙e really excited about it. I guess we鈥檒l have to just wait and see, but I think the future looks good for this team. We work really well together as a group,鈥� she said.
Annie McLeod, Caitlin Ciceri, Kaya Oro-Martin and Chelsea Roberts also scored for the Gryphons, who led 5-0 at the half. Roberts鈥� goal was the only one of the second half as Pawar went down to 10 players and played a possession game against a much younger and less experienced opponent.
Tori Windle made like the Maytag repairman in goal, the loneliest person on the pitch, while Pandas keeper Kaitlyn Mingo was kept busy, making several saves in both halves.
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