There will be a point in time when Brea Christie is going to have to make a decision.
The talented Grade 11 Royal Bay student is a track athlete (running the 400- and 100-metre hurdles as well as 100- and 200m sprints) and is also a competitive figure skater at the Juan de Fuca club. But it鈥檚 on the soccer pitch where the 16-year-old commands the most attention and universities are already showing interest in her services.
Christie was the best player on the pitch on Thursday afternoon as the Royal Bay Ravens began play in the UVic Nike Spring Classic tournament on the Vikes鈥� campus.
After a scoreless draw over 60 minutes, the Ravens were defeated 4-3 in penalty kicks by Carihi of Campbell River. Ironically, it was fellow track athlete Haley Hunter who led the way for the Tyees, thwarting several Ravens鈥� attempts as the keeper kept a clean sheet in regulation time to get to the shootout.
鈥淒efinitely, when it comes to university, I鈥檓 going to have to choose which way I want to go. I鈥檓 thinking more soccer because that鈥檚 the one I鈥檓 most passionate about,鈥� Christie said. 鈥淭here are a few interested.
鈥淚 know UVic is a really good option to stay at home or I鈥檓 also interested in going somewhere in Oregon because I just love it down there.鈥�
Normally a centre back with the Vancouver Island Wave, Christie controlled the midfield for the Ravens, who easily out-played the Tyees on this occasion, but were stalled by Hunter.
The best opportunities came in the second half as Hunter 鈥� who was a Zone 6 teammate of Christie鈥檚 in track at the sa国际传媒 Summer Games and is in the top two in javelin in the country in her age group 鈥� denied Ali Henderson on a few golden opportunities. She didn鈥檛 discriminate though, also stopping Bella Vedova, Briar Mayoh and Christie.
鈥淪he was good, wasn鈥檛 she,鈥� agreed Christie. 鈥淚 think we could have had it. There were lots of opportunities 鈥� we just didn鈥檛 find the back of the net.鈥�
Which is unlike Christie.
鈥淪he does have a knack for scoring goals,鈥� said former Vikes midfielder Mariel Solsberg, who now coaches the Ravens soccer academy (which moved from Belmont) as well as the Wave. 鈥淪he can play anywhere on the pitch.
鈥淚 like her at centre-mid here. She has very good vision and she has the ability to strike a ball better than most people, men or women, at her age group and beyond. She can usually pick out a spot and place it there fairly consistently. She鈥檚 good in the air and controlling the ball. Her composure gets better and better as she gets older.鈥�
Solsberg, who also played for the Highlanders鈥� women鈥檚 program, believes whoever manages to lure Christie will benefit greatly.
鈥淪he is a phenomenal athlete in general. It鈥檚 not just soccer she excels at. I think she鈥檒l have options in multiple sports from multiple schools. She does very well academically. She鈥檚 one of those people you almost despise because she鈥檚 great at everything and a good person, and then you can鈥檛 even dislike her,鈥� chuckled Solsberg, who is proud of the young athlete.
On this day, however, it was Carihi that stood tall with the win.
Abbie Simms, Macayla Gray, Charlie Borrie and Megan Robertson (who sealed the win) all scored in penalty kicks for the Tyees.
Simms was strong throughout the game and rifled a shot off the crossbar early in.
Christie, Mayoh and Lauren Thomas all scored for Royal Bay. Devin Rees鈥檚 solid effort in kicks rocketed off the goalpost and straight out. Vedova, Thomas and Henderson are all Grade 9s.
The tournament continues today with the championship game set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
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