McMath Wildcats head to this week's B.C. AAA Girls Soccer Championships in Vancouver as the team to beat.
After taking over the No. 1 spot in the provincial rankings a month ago, the Wildcats have lived up to the hype and will take perfect regular season and playoff record into the 16-team tournament that starts Thursday. McMath captured the Vancouver/Richmond playoffs with a 1-0 win over Kitsilano in the championship game, played at Jericho Park. Earlier, the girls got past Point Grey 2-0.
The Wildcats are in a pool group that includes Mt. Baker (Cranbrook), Fleetwood Park (Surrey) and Belmont (Victoria). The first place team advances directly to the semi-finals as the tournament format puts heavy emphasis on round-robin hunt with only the four pool group winners staying in championship contention.
It will be a busy three days for McMath coach Stephen Burns who also happens to guide the No. 2 ranked South Delta Sun Devils. The Richmond resident teaches at the Tsawwassen school. The Sun Devils captured the Fraser Valley playoffs with a 1-0 win over No. 3 Charles Best of Coquitlam.
The Wildcats and Sun Devils are on opposite sides of the draw.
