World Cups Festival

This year's World Cups Festival is just around the corner. Tournament dates are March 22-24 (Saturday-Monday) and each player/team is guaranteed 4 games over the weekend. Players register as individuals and are placed on teams alongside players from clubs across Victoria and Vancouver Island. As tournament organizer I can honestly say its the best and most unique youth soccer tournament in Victoria and certainly the highlight of my soccer season. This year we'll be celebrating our 22nd anniversary.

Last year saw a very competitive U11 division, with Uruguay (including Brooke, Jenessa, Margaret) just edging out New Zealand (Mia, Madison R) in a very, very exciting final. I distinctly remember some phenomenal saves from Mia in the final game as well as some very stressed parents from both teams!

Rachael (South Korea), Paige and Emma (Portugal), Leah and Holly (Nigeria) and Olivia (Brazil) also participated in the WCF. In fact, I think this will be some girls 5th tournament (Emma, Paige and Rachael?). And if my memory serves I think Brooke's won it three years in a row! (Argentina, Nigeria, Uruguay - right Brooke?). Perhaps this will be your year to win the final and all the glory that goes with it!!!!

Online registration opens January 15th. Keep checking the club website for more info.

Gordon Head in "The Cage"

No pictures from this game (sadly James Strickland from Lakehill couldn't make the game :-)), but it was a great effort today from the girls on a difficult playing surface.

We got some bumps and bruises along the way - including some minor surgery performed on Lily (thanks Nurse Kim) - but what i saw at the end of the game were mostly smiles. I'm assuming the smiles were because we won. Or was it relief that the game was over? Either way congrats to Rachael and Annabel on their goals.

Next up is Peninsula at Lochside Park, but before then we're in the gym Tuesday at 8pm.

See you then.

Photos from UVic Turf Game vs. Lakehill

The result wasn't quite what we hoped for, but there were plenty of positives from our first 11 v 11 game. I was very pleased with the first twenty minutes of the game - we tried to keep possession and worked the ball from defence to attack several times. We also had a couple of good chances to score, but the ball didn't quite run for us. Congratulations to everyone for surviving the 60 minutes without a sub!

Below are some pictures from the game. All but the first one are courtesy of James Strickland (c). Thanks to Derek for managing to capture me in a calm moment.

Pre-match chat from yours truly. Well, at least I thought the game plan made sense!


Paige and Margaret thwarting a Lakehill attack early on.


Lily in determined mood. Notice her excellent technique in shielding the player from the ball.

It's fair to say Emma got a bit of work in goal as our legs tired in the second half.

Got it!

We'll be back on the UVic Turf for another full-field game sometime the week of February 18-21.