Don't count on the Centennial Centaurs nor the Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils winning next week's B.C. AAA senior girls high school soccer championship.
Don't count them out, neither.
With no consensus favourite going in, the Centaurs and Blue Devils are both looking to make it through their respective challenging round-robin pools and advance to the championship round at Newton Athletic Park. Then, anything can happen, both coaches believe.
"[With] no real outstanding favourite this year, there are about six or eight equally strong teams that can win it all," said Best coach Alfonso Napoletano. "I feel we should be included in this list as we are strong in all positions and have a lot of depth, too."
Last Thursday, the Cents beat Best 2-1 to claim the Fraser Valley's No. 3 seed entering the 16-team provincials, with the Blue Devils settling for the zone's No. 4 berth.
The Cents are grouped in Pool C with Handsworth, host Fleetwood Park and Victoria's Claremont, the two-time provincial finalists.
Best will battle in Pool A with Carihi of Campbell River, Seaquam and South Kamloops.
Argyle, last year's provincial champs, are also competing again.
"We got placed in very challenging pool," said Cents coach Larry Moro. "In short, we have our work cut out for us.
"My expectations are simple... compete hard, play together as a team, focus on quality defending and use our possession game to create scoring opportunities. If we do that, I think we'll be satisfied with the results. If we fall short, I'm sure it won't be because of lack of effort."
Centennial qualified for the B.C.'s via a 2-0 triumph May 16 over Seaquam. Aliya Boulanger and Olivia Aguiar were the Cents' goal-getters.
Best advanced to provincials via a 2-0 win over Lord Tweedsmuir.
The provincials run May 31 through June 2.
