The St. Andrew鈥檚 Sabres kick-started the high school boys鈥� soccer post-season into high gear by successfully defending their sa国际传媒 Single-A championship. The Sabres became back-to-back provincial holders by defeating Immaculata of Kelowna 2-1 in overtime in the final played in Duncan.
鈥淲e had a sense of camaraderie and a team work ethic,鈥� said Sabres head coach Mark Cristante, who won the third sa国际传媒 championship in his 10 years at St. Andrew鈥檚, and the school鈥檚 fourth overall.
鈥淲e had a buy-in factor and we came together. We had a real team approach. It reminded me of my old Gorge FC days.鈥�
Cristante played on the last two of Gorge鈥檚 four Province Cup men鈥檚 championship teams from 2001 to 2010.
Andrew Pearse of St. Andrew鈥檚 was named MVP of the sa国际传媒 Single-A tournament.
Now it鈥檚 the turn of the big schools as the Island Triple-A championship begins today. The Reynolds Roadrunners and Oak Bay Bays would be favoured regardless of where the Island tournament is taking place this year. The fact they are co-hosting only amplifies their favourites鈥� status.
Pool B is being played at Braefoot Park, home of the Roadrunners, where South No. 2 Reynolds opens against the North No. 1 Cowichan Thunderbirds at 10 a.m. before meeting the South No. 3 Royal Bay Ravens at 3 p.m. Cowichan plays Royal Bay at 12:30 in the other game at Braefoot.
The Roadrunners, 2016 sa国际传媒 Triple-A champions and third in the province last year, are looking to build on their success of recent seasons. The impact of the program can be felt a few blocks up McKenzie Avenue as five Reynolds alumni played in U Sports this season for Bruce Wilson鈥檚 University of Victoria Vikes team, including 10-goal UVic freshman sensation Matteo Ventura.
South Island No. 1 Oak Bay, however, believes it has the talent this year to drop the anvil on the Roadrunners. Host Oak Bay begins that post-season quest today in Pool A, opening against the South No. 4 Claremont Spartans at 10 a.m. and playing the North No. 2 Dover Bay Dolphins at 3 p.m. Claremont and Dover Bay meet at 12:30.
The pool winners will meet in the championship game Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Oak Bay. Both finalists will advance to the sa国际传媒 Triple-A championship tournament Nov. 22-24 in Burnaby.
The Island bronze-medal game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at Braefoot.
