Sooke Celtic FC's recent efforts indicate the team may be turning the corner on a season that's been a challenging one so far.
The team, which is in its first year of Division 1 and play in the Vancouver Island Soccer League, earned a thrilling victory in the historic McGavin Cup final on Nov.12 in front of an energized, exuberant home crowd.
The game was knotted 0-0 after regulation play and went to the sixth round of the shootout to determine the winner.
"The boys were really pumped, and our fans ran onto the field after Benat Garat scored the winner in the sixth round," said Celtic assistant coach Pete McKay. "It's the first time we've won the McGavin Cup, which has been around for about a hundred years. Our goalkeeper, Cody Carter, made two huge saves in the shootout, and Keegan Phillips was named tournament MVP."
The move up to Division 1 this year has been a challenge so far, McKay noted, as evidenced by the team's record of two wins, three draws, and six losses. That leaves Sooke Celtic in eighth place in the 10-team division.
"Obviously our first goal in our first year in Division 1 is to stay in Division 1," he said. "We're playing better now with two wins and a tie in our last five games, and we've had a couple of one-goal losses to the top two teams, so we hope to make a push for a provincial berth. Our next three games are at home, so we have a great opportunity to make up some ground."
Sooke Celtic plays Bays United on Friday, Nov. 22 and then Cowichan FC on Friday, Nov. 29, with both games starting at 7 p.m. Comox FC comes to town to play Celtic on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. All games are at The Log at Fred Milne Park, where the team has drawn large crowds all season.
"We really hope that continues," McKay added. "It gives a good boost to our players."
