The Richmond U13 Metro Girls All-Stars dug deep to take their impressive season to the Coastal 'A" Cup championship game.
The girls' rallied for a 2-1 semi-final victory over Delta last Sunday at Hugh Boyd to earn a date in the cup final against Nanaimo's Harbour City FC on May 5 (3: 10 p.m.) at Minoru Park.
From the opening whistle the Richmond girls went right at their Delta opponents and were unlucky to have their first shot ring off the post in the opening five minutes.
Right after that play, however, the visitors applied some pressure of their own, resulting in the first goal of the game on a well-hit shot from a long way out.
The Richmond girls kept up their fast paced passing game against the Delta team who had bunkered down protecting its one goal lead. Delta almost got another goal when a ball headed towards the Richmond goal was chased down and cleared off the line by Kirsten Wilshire. After that fine play, the All-Star girls regained their composure and continued moving the ball around looking for their first goal.
After a half time talk with the coaches discussing what areas needed improving, the girls encouraged each other and expressed their belief that they would be able to get it done in the second half.
It took all of one minute for that belief to result in the tying goal when right off the kickoff, Emilie Sherritt received a ball on the wing and drove it across the box for Liz Kibblewhite to finish smartly. Ten minutes later, Kibblewhite continued her fine play and laid off a ball for Ebony Clarke, who ran past the marker shadowing her all game to slot the winning goal.
From that point on, defenders Dakota Chan, Klara Marsh and Gita Manhas shut down the Delta forwards to prevent any other scoring opportunities.
Jacqueline Tyrer, Kate Schmidt, Wilshire and Sherritt dominated in midfield, while attacking players Jalen Donaldson, Kibblewhite and Clarke kept up the pressure on the Delta defense. Goalkeeper Kasey Wright was confident and strong in net and encouraged her teammates to continue battling.
Coaches Clive Clarke and Chantelle Donaldson were very pleased with the great team effort and congratulated the girls on their own belief that their high level of play and competitiveness would earn them the result they wanted.
The All-Stars have fashioned a 20-1-1 regular season record this year in winning the league which has also guaranteed them a spot in the Provincial Cup finals in July.
"The girls have really improved this season," says coach Clarke.
"They are looking forward to playing in the cup final in front of their family and friends and will display a really attractive and attacking brand of soccer for all to see."
