For their first home game of the regular season the U12 Ponoka Storm girls’ soccer team had a strong showing compared to their male counterparts.
The girls’ game against Wetaskiwin May 4 started off a little slow, explained coach Rob McArthur. “On the kick-off we had the ball but they dominated the play.”
But a short time into the game the girls scored, and they didn’t stop. “They smelled blood,” joked McArthur.
The last two seasons the U12 girls have had some struggles, said McArthur, but at this game against Wetaskiwin that was not the case. Initially he worried the other team would run away with the ball but defense and offense weren’t having it.
The girls won 6-2.
“Taylor Steinley anchored our attack from centre-mid. She scored two. We got one from our Marye Bakker and the other three from our attacking midfield — Kennedy McArthur, Seija Athtila and Pyper Roos”
There are two boys U12 teams and while one was in Lacombe the other played one of the Wetaskiwin U12 boys teams. At home the U12 boys had a strong start securing a goal early on, explained coach Cam Hinton. That early score would be the only point for the team that eventually lost 3-1.
“After a quick opener from us we struggled positionally,” said Hinton.
That would be their biggest challenge after a later start due to a wet spring. Hinton said the team had just one practice on the field before the game.
“Certainly understanding the limits and the realms of positions will be the thing that we’re working on next,” said Hinton.
He added that there are a few new players to the team, which means there is a slight learning curve.