McMath Wildcats finished seventh at last week's Provincial "AAA" Boys Soccer Championships and it was close to being so much more.
The Lower Mainland champions entered the event as one of the tournament's top seeds and showed why with a pair of victories to open round-robin play.
McMath got things started with a 2-1 win over Queen Elizabeth on a pair of goals from midfielder Kourino Hazebouck. The Steveston school then cruised to a 4-0 victory against Sullivan Heights. Goals came from George Almeida, Liam Robinson, John Murry and Hazebouck.
That result set-up a huge final preliminary game against the Burnaby Central Wildcats. A win or draw over their unbeaten opponent (1-0-1) would send McMath directly to the semi-finals. A loss would mean no better than a fifth place finish as only the four pool group winners stayed in championship contention.
The locals got off to a terrific start when Robinson opened the scoring 10 minutes into the match. McMath enjoyed several more chances to extend its lead but it would be Burnaby Central finishing off a pair of opportunities late in the half to take a 2-1 advantage into the interval.
McMath dominated the second half but couldn't find the all important equalizer. The first loss of the season cost the boys a chance at a medal for the fifth time in seven years.
It wasn't a surprise to see the team come out flat less than two hours later for its consolation game against Panorama Ridge. The Fraser Valley champions produced a 4-2 win despite goals from Connor McFadyen and Alemedia.
The result sent the Wildcats to the game for seventh and eighth place against another Valley powerhouse - Charles Best of Coquitlam - who were considered one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Best opened up a 2-0 lead before McMath came roaring back with goals from Almeida and a pair from Hazebouck to pull out a 3-2 victory.
The team then watched Burnaby Central fall 1-0 to Sutherland in the championship game and wondered what might had been if that preliminary game went the other way.
Hazebrouck was a standout in every game, scoring five goals in many games from mainly a defensive midfield position which was quite impressive.
Rounding out the Wildcats roster are: Ryan Kamimura, Itai Goldfarb, Jason Roberts, Luke Sewel, Lachland Macaulay, Jorge Esquivel, Miguel Keough, Fraser Kirkland, and Trevor Shackles. Managers are Courtenay Bergunder and Tessa Tasaka. The teacher sponsors are Bik Chatha and Gary Winkleman.
Overall, it was a good season for coach Mike Quinn's squad - winning the Richmond League and Lower Mainland Championships en route to a 15-2-0 overall record. The 'Cats will be in for a rebuilding year in 2014 with 11 players graduating.
Corner kicks...
McMath grad Colin Jacques has helped the SFU men's soccer team reach the NCAA Division II Final Four Championships.
The Clan rolled to a convincing 5-0 Elite Eight victory over host Regis University Rangers on Sunday in Denver, CO.
The Richmond Youth Soccer product, who leads SFU in scoring, gave his team a 2-0 lead in the dying minutes of the opening half when he got on the end of a corner kick.
The Clan now head to Evans, GA where they will face southeast region champions Carson-Newman in the semi-finals on Dec. 5.
