Prospect Lake has been knocking on the door for some time now.
One day they hope to come crashing through it.
That quest continues against Coquitlam Xtreme in the women鈥檚 A Province Cup soccer quarter-finals Sunday at 2 p.m. at Layritz Park after the Lakers received an opening-round bye.
Coach John Leier inherited a last-place team eight years ago and has brought it along to a first-ever Terry Price Cup title this year and also the Lower Island regular-season title with an undefeated 12-0-3 season.
Last year, Prospect Lake came within a controversial semifinal loss of reaching the Province Cup final.
鈥淲e鈥檝e climbed the ladder,鈥� said Leier. 鈥淲e鈥檙e close. But we鈥檙e not looking past our next game.鈥�
The Lakers have scored 35 goals his season and allowed only four. They are led by a stout back end and middle, led by UVic Vikes goaltender Olivia De Goede and midfielders Daniella Corlazzoli, a Langara College product, and captain Kelsey Hendrickson. The attack has been led by strikers Jane Travers and Natasha Salo with Lindsay Hoetzel a key late pick-up from the Vikes.
鈥淥ur goaltending, middle and back are solid and we鈥檝e got a lot of timely goals up front that have been spread out. It鈥檚 been a real good balancing act,鈥� said Leier.
The Island second-place Castaways (9-3-2) also received a first-round Province Cup bye and will meet Richmond in a quarter-final fixture Sunday at 12:30 at Goudy Field in Langford.
But in the most daunting quarter-final task, the Victoria Athletics (2-0 winners over Saanich Fusion last week) are away Sunday to play nine-time sa国际传媒 champion Surrey United.
The remaining Island teams in the men鈥檚 A Province Cup are away for their quarter-final matchups this weekend. Cowichan FC is at top-ranked Langley FC, while Jackson Cup-champion Bays United Liquor Plus is at the second-seed Delta United Hurricanes.
The Province Cup playdowns also continue in the Under-21 and Masters categories. The Province Cup finals for all categories will be played May 11 at Langford鈥檚 Westhills Stadium.
