Centennial Centaurs’ senior girls soccer coach Larry Moro knows a hungry team is a motivated team.
His players were both in spades Wednesday as they sought to avenge a previous loss to the Riverside Rapids that also happened to be their only setback of the season and cost them a Fraser Valley North league championship. That the match’s winner would also earn a guaranteed spot in the provincial championship tournament that begins May 30 at the University of British Columbia just kicked the desire up a notch more.
Well, mission accomplished on both counts, as goals by Jessa Vance in the 10th minute and another by Avery Tulloch in the 35th minute were all Moro's defensively disciplined charges needed for a 2-0 victory over Riverside in their second-round match of the Fraser Valley championships at Gates Park in Port Coquitlam. Goalkeeper Kelsey Eckert earned her 13th clean sheet of the season.
Moro said the game was an excellent rebound from a sluggish performance against Lord Tweedsmuir in last Monday’s opening round match of the Fraser Valley’s. While the Centaurs prevailed in that match 4-2, they trailed at halftime and only scored the winner two minutes shy of full time.
Moro said Wednesday’s win is a confidence boost for his players heading into a quarter-final match against their crosstown rivals, Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils, who have also already earned their way to UBC. The match will be played Monday, 3 p.m., at Coquitlam Town Centre Park.
But, Moro said, with a chance to improve on the Centaurs’ third place finish in last year’s provincials already secure, some of the “edge” has been taken off.
“Last year we finished fifth at Fraser Valley’s, and that certainly didn’t hurt us,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rapids will have to regroup if they’re to parlay their league title into a run at the provincial tournament. A win at Gates Park on Monday against Surrey’s Sullivan Heights secondary will keep that aspiration alive, but a loss ends their season.
“Even though we lost, I think it was beneficial for our girls to see that they can compete with a team like Centennial,” said Rapids’ coach Kenny Jamieson. “If they continue to treat every game like that, we have a great chance at winning on Monday.”
The Terry Fox Ravens are also still alive in their quest for a spot in provincials, after splitting their first two matches. The Ravens opened the Fraser Valley tournament on Monday with a 4-2 loss in overtime to Fleetwood Park, but rebounded Wednesday with a 3-2 win over W.J. Mouat in Abbotsford. But like the Rapids, they’ll have to win their match against Sardis, at Sardis secondary, to stay alive.
