The Reynolds Roadrunners will attempt to leave their provincial opponents in the dust, 脿 la the cartoon character, when the sa国际传媒 high school senior girls鈥� triple-A soccer championship kicks off today at Burnaby North.
Reynolds, which has already captured the Ryan Cup and Island championships, will represent Vancouver Island along with Carihi in the 16-team tournament.
鈥淲e started off the season well and have built momentum throughout,鈥� said Reynolds coach J.J. Atterbury, who has already led the Roadrunners senior boys to Colonist Cup, Island and provincial titles this season, with hopes of matching it with the girls team.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been getting better and better. Ryan Cup brought some close battles and games and that experience was good for us. We鈥檝e now got that experience and we seem to be peaking at the right time.鈥�
Reynolds is led by a number of talented athletes, including powerful Grade 10 striker Cecilia Way and co-captain Nicole Moreira holds the line well at the back.
鈥淪he鈥檚 such a good player, so dangerous. She draws players and then opens space for others,鈥� Atterbury said of Way, who is just 15.
鈥淣icole has been such a great leader for us. She is very determined and it was nice to see her put one away,鈥� Atterbury said of Moreira鈥檚 opening goal against Carihi in a 4-0 win in the Island championship final.
Reynolds is in a pool with Dr. Charles Best, Kitsilano and Fleetwood Park and opens against the latter at 9 a.m. today. The Carihi Tyees are in a pool with Panorama Ridge, Lord Byng and Kelowna and begin play against the latter at 11 a.m.
鈥淭his is our 10th time [at provincials] in about 20 years, but it鈥檚 as sweet every year,鈥� said Tyees coach John Jepson, whose team moved up from double-A. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to be representing the Island and to see how we match up.鈥�
Meanwhile, Ladysmith, Frances Kelsey and St. Michaels University School will compete at the sa国际传媒 double-A championship in Nelson and in single-A, North Island Secondary of Port McNeill and St. Andrew鈥檚 will face 14 other teams.
Last season, Reynolds placed eighth provincially as Oak Bay finished fifth. SMUS placed third in 2016, Carihi was eighth and Ladysmith ninth at double-A and St. Andrew鈥檚 finished seventh last year in single-A, just behind Glenlyon Norfolk School, which moved up to double-A this season.
鈥淚t was the most competitive double-A championship that I鈥檝e seen,鈥� Frances Kelsey coach Brian Johnston said of the Island competition where his Breakers finished second to Ladysmith. 鈥淔or us, it鈥檚 the first time that our school has gone [to provincials], which is nice for the kids.鈥�
Frances Kelsey faces South Kamloops at 10 a.m., while Ladysmith tackles Valleyview at the same time. SMUS begins play at 8 a.m. against host L.V. Rogers.
