The Estevan Elecs girls’ soccer team is using the next three weeks to prepare for a good showing at the Oct. 23-24 regional championships in Swift Current.
The team, which features eight returning players on its 23-man roster, will be using the time before regionals to practise the fundamentals of the game, while also gain confidence at scoring goals. So far this season the Elecs have played in a Sept. 11-12 tournament in Yorkton and a Sept. 18-19 tourney in Moose Jaw, but failed to find the back of the net in any of their games.
Stacy Murphy, head coach of the Elecs, said the goals will come, but they first have to break that goose egg to get it started. She said they may have to find the touch in practice as they don’t have any games or tournaments scheduled until regionals, but they are trying to organize a few home dates over the next couple weeks.
Murphy said the team’s roster is a mix of kids ranging from young Grade 9’s getting their first taste of organized soccer to Grade 12’s new to the team who may have played youth ball years earlier, all the way over to their veteran core returning for another year.
She said they have a strong defence, but it consists of many new players. The midfield, a difficult position to teach considered they have to contribute on offence and defence, is also stocked with newcomers. The strikers have one veteran and two new girls, but all three have speed to spare. And the goaltending is being handled by a Grade 10 returnee to the team who played a different position last season.
“It’s very courageous of her because no one wants to play goalie, but she’s doing a fantastic job,” said Murphy. “She’s learning and she understands what she’s learning and she’s applying the skills that she is learning, so that’s the most important thing.”
To excel at regionals and book their ticket to provincials, the Elecs will have to finish ahead of either Swift Current or Yorkton, who are the other two teams competing. Two spots at provincials are available, so the top two move on.
“We’re very evenly matched in terms of strengths,” said Murphy in reference to Yorkton. “It’s just a matter of getting over those initial butterflies and popping that first goal in the net and I think the confidence will come from there.”
