2018-2019

(From the Stanstead College yearbook)

Senior Girls

On September 12, I was in the hospital having a baby... well not me, but you know what I mean. On September 12, the SG soccer team was at BCS to play a soccer game... God. I wish I could be in two places at once... but I couldn't and Brooke said I HAD to be at the hospital? S000 I stay, and I'm holding her hand and being supportive with "push, breathe, push, breathe, push a little harder and I can still make the game... breathe." I love coaching this team, not enough to miss the birth of my first child but... we'll see what happens when I have a second... Anyway, I didn't make it to the game, but thank God it was BCS and we won pretty handily. I think it was something like 9-1. I do not know, I was not there.

Now as nice as it was to start the season with a big win, I think our losses say more about the team, and the season than the wins. Three loses in particular: 4-0, 4-2, 0-1. All against Galt, all in that order. It was heartbreaking to lose in the championship, but the girls should be proud of everything they accomplished this year. Again. 4-0 at the start of the year: we barely crossed half. 4-2: it was 2-2 at half and a very balanced game. Finally, 0-1: we could have won that game. We out-chanced Galt significantly in the first half but just couldn't buy a goal. But it was an amazing effort and we were in it for every second. The girls came a very long way, and we are proud of what they accomplished.

Junior Girls

The junior girls had a tough season. We won 1 game, lost 7, and tied 1.

So, what can you learn from a losing season? It turns out: a lot!

First, it is perfectly OK to lose to a better team. In fact, the other team has the right to win and feel good about it. We do not have the right to feel bitter about that and feel like we were somehow cheated out of a win. They are a better team and they beat us. Fair and square. It happens. We can even admire them and sincerely congratulate them on their win, after all, we are trying our hardest to be like them aren't we? This is good for sport in general. Everybody feels good.

Second, there are a ton of great things happening on the field even if we are not scoring goals. Our positional play. our zone coverage and defense, our man defense when needed, our full-team shape whether expanding or contracting, playing wide or laying balls off, good first-touches - you know, soccer stuff. All that needs to happen is to change the narrative and focus from goal scoring to anything else. Look for growth. learning and application.

Third. managing damage-control during a loss matters. You can control by how much you lose. If you are losing by three, try not to lose by four. Keep working and never quit. Why does this matter? Well, first because life is like that - plenty of adversity, but also, our season came down to this: we were tied with BCS for third place and the tie-break procedure was decided by least-goals-against. We had fewer than BCS and we made the playoffs. That's mission accomplished.

Remember that semi-final? We played to a tie with Massey Vanier (who had beaten us 7-2 and 6-0 and 1-0 in league play). We played through sudden-death overtime and then all the way through to the 7th shooter in penalty shots where we lost. But it totally felt like a win didn't it? What a great way to finish a season.

That's how you turn a losing season into something memorable. You girls did it.

Congratulations to our Junior S winners: Mariama and the "fence" of Tammy, Joliane and Sophia.

Antonia, how do you feel about goal-keeping now? What about now? Oh well...you're still in nets. Thank you for that.

Bantam girls

It was a rough start to the season for the bantam girls soccer team — begging girls to stay and be a part of the team (thanks, Bella and Amanda!). However, at our October 10 at Galt, the girls showed their true character. During the first half, the girls easily played their worst 30 minutes of soccer - too much turkey over Thanksgiving, no exercise over break, over tired... whatever the excuse, they had no drive, no focus and absolutely no energy. Half-time. Time to talk; time to discuss the positives of the first half and time to talk about what we wanted to work on for the second half. We spoke more about what our goals were for the final 30 minutes. And at that moment, things fell into place. During the final frame, the girls made a 180-degree turnaround and played their absolute best soccer to date. They played with heart, focus and purpose. They were aggressive, first to the ball and determined. We still lost the game, yet we can truly say that each and every player gave every ounce of energy they had during those final 30 minutes. It was solid soccer!

And now, a follow-up...two days later at practice on the most perfect of fall days; it was cool, brisk, blustery and sunny. All the players were in the zone. Eleven smiling faces were on the field, ready to practice and take on the world. And so they did. After a solid hour of running drills and trying a few new things, they scrimmaged against the junior team. It was their best day of your season for multiple reasons: 1.We did not get scored on. 2.We did not lose. 3.We did not quit. Never. Ever. They all pushed themselves and did what they had to do.

Well done girls! Your spirit and drive are amazing!

(From the Clarion, October edition)

Relentless effort by Senior Girls

On September 15th, the Stanstead senior girls soccer team hosted their one and only invitational tournament, this year’s first sports event held on campus. Despite the torrid heat, the temporary absence of one of their coaches (CONGRATS ON THE BABY!) as well as having to play 3 consecutive games with no subs, these teammates were able to give all they had while of course, enjoying themselves.

Our Stanstead soccer team had to face up to Sacred Heart’s team as their first match, a team known to possess very skilled players. Stanstead’s senior girls relentlessly played in the scorching heat, tried to get to the ball first and stop the Sacred Heart girls from passing our defense. However, after a very tiresome game, Galt had still managed to put three goals into the net.

The soccer team later had to play Galt, a local team from Montreal. During this game, the girls practiced and demonstrated great ball control and their passes were of great precision. Nonetheless, few were the scoring opportunities for our team and when one could have scored, they got extremely unlucky and would hit the crossbar or would be slightly to the left and miss the goal. For the second time, Stanstead was left defeated with a score of four to none, although the girls gave it all they had.

For their third and final game, Stanstead encountered West Island College’s senior girls soccer team. The girls had played non stop and were finally starting to give out of exhaustion but maintained to give the last little straw of effort they had left in them for the last game given the number of players and the heat. The communication throughout the game amongst the girls during the game was fantastic, however it clearly showed the girls were beyond exhausted. Kenya Desautels, who later went on to win Athlete of the Week scored the first Stanstead goal in the second half. Very unfortunately, the opposing team, WIC, was also able to score one ending the game in a one one tie.

Our veteran and new athletes showed great demonstration of teamwork and improvement although it was one of the very first times playing together. The girls should be extremely proud of their efforts and Alyson Barlow, one of the three captains went on to say: “I’m very proud of the girls for playing with intensity and enthusiasm even through the heat and opposition.”

Congratulations girls!