The Mount Douglas Rams are more recognized for their North American football rather than the European brand, known as soccer in these parts. But coach Glenn Barker鈥檚 crew is attempting to change that.
The Rams got off to a flying start on Tuesday with a 6-0 victory over the St. Andrew鈥檚 Sabres at Tyndall Park in the Lower Island high school senior boy鈥檚 league opener, a dominating performance as Caden Brown led the way with a pair of second-half goals.
Stefan Klimach, Nischal Karki, Johnny Cole and Rees Goertzen also scored in the victory. Goertzen鈥檚 goal came just before the final whistle, which truly was justified as he dominated midfield play, making several strong runs and delivering the ball with aplomb.
Goertzen and Klimach are also members of the Vancouver Island Wave youth select team.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to change that. We have a good group of guys and we want to do some bigger things,鈥� said Goertzen, a Grade 12 student who also plays volleyball, basketball and golf. 鈥淚t was a good start today.
鈥淚 think if we can put in the time and commitment we can go as far as we want. We鈥檒l have some tough challenges ahead of us [in Reynolds and Oak Bay], but we鈥檙e not going to back down.鈥�
Mount Doug鈥檚 pace was spot-on Tuesday and an obvious team strength.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just their first game and we don鈥檛 usually play this formation. We鈥檙e doing something different than they usually do with their clubs,鈥� said coach Barker. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e moaning about it, but they鈥檙e realizing that it鈥檚 working so they鈥檙e getting into it.鈥�
They were into it in the opener, extending the 2-0 halftime advantage with two quick goals from Brown in the second half.
鈥淩ees has a lot of pace and Abhi [Karki] has a lot of pace on the other side. Rees can pretty much play anywhere. There is a lot of depth to the squad, although we don鈥檛 have big numbers,鈥� said Barker, who also coaches U-21 at Bays United and is attempting to strengthen the Rams鈥� soccer program.
鈥淲hen we first got here [five years ago], it wasn鈥檛 so important to them but, as we鈥檝e progressed, it鈥檚 been getting better and better every year, so now they鈥檙e more interested.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been working our way up and school soccer is starting to become more important for everyone, like Oak Bay, Vic High and SMUS. Everyone is thinking it鈥檚 the big game in the world and everyone wants to play it, especially with all the international players now because they really bring passion to the game.鈥�
Barker has four internationals on his team, but they will be challenged by the heavy-hitters like defending champion Reynolds.
鈥淥ak Bay will be strong as well,鈥� said Barker. 鈥淭hey usually are, but we鈥檙e starting to pull our weight now as well.鈥�
The Reynolds Roadrunners have the advantage in that the soccer academy draws tremendous talent.
鈥淚 still think Reynolds will be the class of the league and I think we鈥檒l be better than last year,鈥� said Oak Bay Bays co-coach Richard Fast, who is also the commissioner for the league. Fast coaches along with Brent Garraway
鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult. Their academy kids can now play so it鈥檚 going to be a challenge. sa国际传媒 School Sports declared that academies are no longer considered elite. It鈥檚 going to be difficult to compete when they are able to play.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e not allowed to play in league games, which is only a handful of games, but they can compete in the Islands and sa国际传媒鈥檚, so when they鈥檙e able to play 鈥� they are exceptional. We鈥檒l do our best, but it鈥檚 going to be a challenge.鈥�
The league鈥檚 Tier I teams include triple-A clubs Reynolds, Oak Bay, Mount Douglas and Claremont, along with double-A sides St. Michaels University School, Royal Bay and Lambrick Park. Single-A teams Glenlyon Norfolk School and St. Andrew鈥檚 round out the field.
In Tier II, it鈥檚 Reynolds and SMUS B teams, along with Stelly鈥檚, Parkland, Spectrum, Esquimalt and Vic High.
Playoffs will commence Oct. 31 with Colonist Cup semifinals slated for Nov. 16 and the championship game on Nov. 28. The Colonist Shield (for Tier II) will be played Nov. 2.
The Island single-A championship is set for Oct. 18-19 at St. Andrew鈥檚; double-A Nov. 8-9 at a South site yet to be determined; and triple-A Nov. 8-9 at Nanaimo鈥檚 Dover Bay.
CORNER KICKS: St. Andrew鈥檚 is playing host to the sa国际传媒 Catholic Schools tournament beginning today at Beckwith Park. Play commences at 1 p.m. today, noon on Thursday and 9 a.m. on Friday.
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