This season is like a homecoming for the Sooke Soccer Club’s Under-17-18 Girls Silver team.
Six players have returned to Sooke after the club combined the U17 and U18 squads. It meant girls playing elsewhere in Greater Victoria could come home
“This team’s special because it’s comprised of girls who haven’t played together or its been a few years since they’ve played in Sooke,” said coach Glyse Clarkston.
So far this season, the U17-18 squad has a 2-1-1 record. The team blanked Gorge 4-1 Sunday in a game played in Sooke.
Clarkston said the team’s early success is due to the players gelling quickly.
Many of the players have played together since they were eight years old, due to growing up in small-town Sooke, while players from teams in bigger centres have likely only played a few years together.
This year’s team is extremely strong at both defence and midfield, and the offence is coming together.
“We’re searching for more attack from our offence,” Clarkston said. “Our strikers are such polite girls they would rather pass than shoot the ball.”
Clarkston is reaching for the top with this year’s team and is predicting a trip to the league final.
“We’re a strong team and with the individual skills are exceptional. I haven’t seen another team that we can’t beat,” she said.